‘Cumbersome for us’: Bitter cold, snow creates challenges for firefighters

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) – The Milwaukee Fire Department responded to a duplex fire on Tuesday, Feb. 9.

No one was in the home at the time near 24th and Finn Place, but the weather had an impact on firefighters.

“The biggest obstacle we have right now is the cold and the snow,” Milwaukee Fire Deputy Chief Dwayne Smoots said.

Smoots explained because of several factors, it takes longer for firefighters to do their job.

“With the snow making the streets narrower, it’s hard for our big rigs to get through, which makes it cumbersome for us to do what we need to do,” he said. "It’s even hard for us to get water, we’ve had a couple of hydrants that weren’t working properly.”

In the bitter temperatures, fire crews also need to switch out more often for their health and safety.

No firefighters were hurt. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.