UPDATE: Eight Firefighters Sent to Hospital After Posey County Fire
By: Tabnie Dozier
Updated: July 2, 2012
UPDATE:
More than 70 firefighters battled this blaze in Posey County Saturday, but that wasn't their only obstacle, temperatures skyrocketed past 100 degrees and fire officials say that heat sent several firefighters to the hospital. Marrs, Perry and German townships all responded to Saturday's fire on the 5600 block of Bayer Drive, eight firefighters were transported to Deaconess Hospital for heat-exhaustion and other heat related issues. Saturday we hit a high of 106 degrees, add that to the fire reaching almost 400 degrees and the obstacles multiply for firefighters. Keith Mosby and Chief Jerry Bulger helped with this fire. Mosby says with 50-80 pounds of equipment, some firefighters can't handle it all. Many received IVs on scene. With these high temperatures, fire departments are now bringing fans, bottled water and keeping emergency staff nearby. The best solution to the heat... Chief Bulger says he rotates his men and women out of the fire, keeping fresh crew members in and giving exhausted ones a rest. Also its the firefighters responsibility to be vocal when they've reached their limit. Perry Township battled a brush fire earlier Saturday, just a few hours before this one. The cause is still under investigation. The chief says none of the firefighters face life threatening injuries, and a majority have already been released.
PREVIOUS REPORT:
Eyewitness News was first on scene as firefighters from several departments and two counties responded. More than 70 firefighters managed to get the fire under control within an hour and a half. Some of the firefighters had just finished battling a brush fire on Evansville's west side before being called out. Because of the extreme heat Saturday, EMS services from around the area also arrived to assist. Eight firefighters had to be taken to the hospital for heat exhaustion. Many more had to receive IVs on the front lawn. At one time, there were just as many firefighters battling the fire as there were firefighters receiving medical attention. The extent of the fire and extreme heat really took it's toll but crews were quick to thank the hard work of emergency services and the Red Cross.
More than 70 firefighters battled this blaze in Posey County Saturday, but that wasn't their only obstacle, temperatures skyrocketed past 100 degrees and fire officials say that heat sent several firefighters to the hospital. Marrs, Perry and German townships all responded to Saturday's fire on the 5600 block of Bayer Drive, eight firefighters were transported to Deaconess Hospital for heat-exhaustion and other heat related issues. Saturday we hit a high of 106 degrees, add that to the fire reaching almost 400 degrees and the obstacles multiply for firefighters. Keith Mosby and Chief Jerry Bulger helped with this fire. Mosby says with 50-80 pounds of equipment, some firefighters can't handle it all. Many received IVs on scene. With these high temperatures, fire departments are now bringing fans, bottled water and keeping emergency staff nearby. The best solution to the heat... Chief Bulger says he rotates his men and women out of the fire, keeping fresh crew members in and giving exhausted ones a rest. Also its the firefighters responsibility to be vocal when they've reached their limit. Perry Township battled a brush fire earlier Saturday, just a few hours before this one. The cause is still under investigation. The chief says none of the firefighters face life threatening injuries, and a majority have already been released.
PREVIOUS REPORT:
Eyewitness News was first on scene as firefighters from several departments and two counties responded. More than 70 firefighters managed to get the fire under control within an hour and a half. Some of the firefighters had just finished battling a brush fire on Evansville's west side before being called out. Because of the extreme heat Saturday, EMS services from around the area also arrived to assist. Eight firefighters had to be taken to the hospital for heat exhaustion. Many more had to receive IVs on the front lawn. At one time, there were just as many firefighters battling the fire as there were firefighters receiving medical attention. The extent of the fire and extreme heat really took it's toll but crews were quick to thank the hard work of emergency services and the Red Cross.
