Firefighters working in the heat

BRYANT, AR - With temperatures hitting 100 degrees in many Central Arkansas towns, the heat is causing dangerous conditions for those who have to work in it. Firefighters battling blazes are dealing with dry conditions and are now hampered by the hot weather.

Bryant firefighters tackled a house fire Sunday afternoon that could have quickly turned into a brush fire. Luckily crews contained the flames before the fire got out of control.

During the hottest time of the day Bryant firefighters scrambled to extinguish the flames of an abandoned house fire from spreading to the nearby woods which could have made a bad situation even worse. Lt. Kevin Smith says the biggest obstacle wasn't just battling the hot temperatures from the flames, but also from the sun. "It's hot so we drink a lot of water to stay hydrated and try not to overwork ourselves."

Bryant firefighters wear nearly 70 pounds of gear which causes them to sweat even before they step off the truck.
That's why Lt. Smith says each firefighter has to know their own limits and make sure to rotate so no one gets exhausted. "We train for this, we condition for it, we drink a lot of water, it's hard, but it's not that hard."

An ambulance is always on standby just in case a firefighter becomes overheated. It's a taxing job already, and the heat just makes it even more difficult. Lt. Smith says especially in dry conditions fires can spread quickly. "Had we been delayed getting out here another 5 minutes we would have had the woods involved."

Luckily firefighters were able to put the fire is out quickly and no one got hurt. The cause of the fire is unknown, but firefighters warn people to be careful not to accidentally start a fire. They say all it takes sometimes is a spark from a lawn mower. Firefighters also want to remind people about the burn bans in place. Firefighters just want people to use common sense.