Firefighting in the freeze: Staying warm, staying safe

CASSELTON, N.D. — Freezing temperatures and frigid winds have become familiar challenges for Casselton firefighters this winter as they respond to emergencies in some of the harshest conditions.

“We have to monitor ourselves and look for any signs of frostbite,” Casselton Fire Chief John Hejl said.

Despite the weather, firefighters wear the same uniforms year round, which can be both a blessing and a curse.

“So, in the summertime, we’re quite warm, and in the winter, it helps keep you warm to a point, but it’s pretty important for us to be wearing layers underneath just like everybody else,” Hejl said.

The priority during winter calls is ensuring everyone’s safety — those impacted by the fires and the firefighters.

“If we have people who live in a home and now they’re displaced, or people that were in a vehicle and now they’re outside of it or it’s no longer running so it’s cooled off, we need to keep those folks warm, so we carry a lot of extra blankets,” Hejl said.

Another critical factor is maintaining a steady water flow to put out fires, as stagnant water can freeze in the hoses.

“We have to keep water flowing, otherwise our hoses will freeze, so finding a ditch or somebody’s front yard or some place to put that water so we’re not icing up a roadway is important so we can keep those lines open and flowing,” Hejl said.

Hejl also noted an uptick in fire calls during colder weather, emphasizing the importance of fire prevention measures.

“Keep your furnace tuned up and working properly, keep your vents open,” he said.

He also urged people to unplug rechargeable batteries once they are fully charged, especially if they’re stored in a garage.

The combination of cold weather and fire hazards requires constant vigilance, but Hejl remains confident in his team’s ability to adapt and protect the community.

Isak Dinesen joined WDAY-TV as a reporter in September 2024. He previously worked as a multimedia journalist at WAOW-TV in Wausau, Wisconsin for three years. He graduated from NDSU in 2020, majoring in Journalism and minoring in Sports Communication at MSUM.