Prov. crews fight fires, battle heat - ABC6 - Providence, RI and New Bedford, MA News, Weather

Prov. crews fight fires, battle heat

The heat is hitting firefighters hard. Providence crews say now that it is day three of sweltering temperatures, the call volume is skyrocketing. ABC 6 Reporter Abbey Niezgoda took a ride on board the busiest engine in the state to see what it is like on such an intense day. 

It was not even lunch time on Friday, and the guys over at the Washington Street Fire Station in Providence had already been out on more runs than they could count.

Within five minutes of patrolling, they came across a woman near Broad Street overcome by the scorching temperatures.

"She got overheated and started seizing so we're going to get her to the hospital and then they'll check it out," Providence Firefighter Paul Doughty said.

After she is put in an ambulance, the neighbors thank the crew, which they appreciate, especially because they know the longer the heat wave wears on, the more rescues they will go out on.

"Things tend to break down," Lt. Brian Mahoney said. "People just can't handle it for that long of time and the call volume skyrockets."

The heat is not only taking a toll on the people who live in Providence, but also those who put  on the heavy equipment and respond.

Around noon a call came in for a house fire on Spencer Street. They put on 70 pounds of equipment and headed in to fight it. At that point, it was 92 degrees.

They take turns going in 10 minutes at a time. Cold water usually helps, but on Friday, relief came on a stick.

"Popsicles," a neighbor screams.

She hands out popsicles to the guys fighting the heat, which might make fighting the fire just a bit cooler.