DURHAM, N.C. — Hot weather continues this week with heat advisories across the globe. Many are choosing to stay indoors, but others don't have that choice.
Firefighters are working every day in this heat and training as much as they can to prepare themselves for the high temperatures.
What You Need To Know
Regardless of the weather, firefighters are training 365 days a year
When temperatures rise, the City of Durham Fire Department's mobile response unit brings onsite snacks, hydration and supplies to its team
The fire department has 19 stations with about 400 firefighters
Firefighters train at the City of Durham Fire Department's training facility on East Club Boulevard. Crews can practice tasks like breaking through a door, positioning ladders and pulling hoses into structures.
Angelo Rogers, 28, just finished his first year in the field and trains daily.
"Calls can come at any point, and if you're not proficient in your skills someone can get hurt ... every second counts," Rogers said.
Even though sometimes it's physically and mentally exhausting, the Virginia native says he has had a longtime goal of working in this field.
"When I was in second grade, my mom had a stroke, and the Norfolk Fire Department, they responded," Rogers said. "And like most kids, I kind of thought they were superheroes and kind of stuck with it ever since then.”
That experience still motivates him today especially when temperatures rise. It's why between each task firefighters take off their gear, so they can cool down their body and refuel at the mobile support unit.
"This unit will show up to any structure fire call, hazmat incident or any large incident," Rogers said. "The mobile support guys help us out by filling our empty bottles, our airtanks, they supply snacks and water and Gatorade for rehydration."
All of that fuel is essential as firefighters carry anywhere from 80 to 100 pounds of gear on them, plus additional weight from things like ladders.
"I try to do functional things to help me stay in shape for the job, especially on days like today," Rogers said. "I try to test myself in the heat."
The heat is becoming a big danger, as areas across the globe experience unprecedented dry conditions, leading to wildfires.
"I'm still new to North Carolina, but I think this has probably been one of the driest summers they've had," Rogers said. "So just being alert and prepared for the possibility that like (in) California, we could easily get a bad wildfire out here."
That's why Rogers says ultimately it all comes back to training for the city's 400 firefighters.
"It's hot, and it sucks sometimes," Rogers said. "But the citizens expect us to show up and do our very best, so that's what we do."
The City of Durham Fire Department starts its next academy at the end of August. It will take firefighters nine months to complete.
