Fighting a fire is hard work. But fighting fires in subfreezing temperatures adds another level of difficulty.
For Butte firefighters, just getting to the fire on snow- and ice-covered roads can be dangerous.
“But once we get off those routes, it takes us a little longer navigating those side streets and maybe up someone’s driveway, so just even getting to the scene is going to be a little bit slower,” said Capt. Chad Silk of the Butte Fire Department.
Firefighters from Butte helped Jefferson County firefighters with a structure fire in a rural area this week in which temperatures dropped to 15 below zero. This can cause equipment failures, as well as firefighters literally coming frozen inside their protective gear.