Firefighters face unique safety risks responding to emergencies during freeze
NAVASOTA, Texas (KBTX) – Early Tuesday morning firefighters in Navasota were dispatched to a house fire in below freezing temperatures.
First responders spent around three hours at the scene before successfully extinguishing the fire.
“I think as low as we got while we were out there was around 20 degrees. It’s cold. It’s uncomfortable. But our equipment, we didn’t have any malfunctions,” Navasota Fire Department Fire Chief Jason Katkoski said.
During the 2021 freeze, Katkoski said they were left without their main tools for fighting fires after the sub-zero temperatures froze hoses and nozzles.
When that happens, water starts to spill out and freeze, becoming a slipping hazard. One of the greatest risks during this year’s freezes are the north winds.
“It causes the fire to travel a little faster, and it can overrun you fairly quick, blocking you and could possibly block out exit routes for the firefighters.”
The freeze didn’t cause firefighters any major issues at this fire, but staying warm remains a challenge, even affecting available manpower.
“You’re having to rotate folks out into rehab to give them an opportunity to somewhat thaw out, get a break before having to go back to work,” he said.
Firefighters weren’t the only responders at the scene. The Red Cross was dispatched, bringing additional aid.
“Our services don’t stop just because of the weather,” Executive Director Jennifer Young said.
According to her, the Red Cross is able to keep their many emergency response programs active, even during a freeze.
“They’ve likely just lost everything and knowing that there’s a friendly face, a hand, there to help them navigate trying to start to put the pieces back together,” she said.
The Navasota Fire Department is still working to identify the cause of the fire.
