A Burnsville firefighter was recovering from heat exhaustion Thursday morning after helping to battle a blaze in Minnesota’s July heat.
The firefighter’s condition is not serious, but the incident does highlight the harsh conditions under which firefighters must operate when the mercury rises.
The Burnsville FD responded to a call Wednesday around 11 p.m. and the temperature was still 80 degrees. That fact, combined with smoke, fire, and extremely heavy gear, put the firefighters at risk. On average, fire fighting gear weighs 25 to 30 pounds.