SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP, P.a. (WPVI) – High winds are creating life-threatening conditions for firefighters and prompting officials to urge neighbors to secure their homes as icy weather persists.
At firehouses, fleece hoods and heavy-duty coats are being dried and kept ready to throw on in an emergency. Gloves and helmets are part of the standard equipment, but officials say full protective gear is critical in the current conditions.
“All of our firefighters have been instructed to wear all of their protective equipment,” said Springfield Township Fire Chief Kenneth Felker.
Firefighters are facing a second battle against the elements as piles of snow remain and many homes are still iced over. Felker said “A lot of roofs still have ice on it, which makes it even more dangerous.”
Those hazards were evident during a fire in South Philadelphia around 5 a.m., when flames shot out of the second and third floors of a rowhome on the 700 block of South 12th Street. Firefighters were seen spraying water from ladders as they worked on slick roofs amid high winds.
“If we go up on the roof to cut a hole in the roof, the winds add another level of complexity to the incident,” Felker said.
Officials say residents can help reduce risks during dangerous winds by safeguarding their property. Felker urged people to secure items that could become airborne, including “your lawn furniture, trampolines, things like that. so they don’t get entangled in the powerlines or hit other structures or people.”
Firefighters also recommend removing ice from driveways and sidewalks, warning that the combination of high winds and icy surfaces could lead to serious falls.
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