Single-Digit temperatures made fighting fire in Emmet County difficult
CROSS VILLAGE TWP. / EMMET CO., MI -- A Northern Michigan family's home burned to the ground while they were trying to stay warm in this chilly weather.
Monday night, fire crews are blaming that fire on the home's chimney.
But the flames weren't the only concern for firefighters Monday morning.
Firefighters were forced to put out those flames in single-digit temperatures which could be a dangerous situation.
"Looks like a chimney fire start, that's what we're looking at," said Readmond, Friendship, Cross Village Fire Chief Don Horn.
The fire at this home on Division Road in Cross Village Township broke out around 8:30 Monday morning. Fire Chief Don Horn said snow and ice covered roads delayed the response time, and when crews arrived, the chimney fire had spread to the attic.
“We can only get here so fast, we have to be safe too," said Chief Horn.
The home is a complete loss.
It's fire and ice for firefighters this time of year. They're forced to fight flames in single-digit temperatures. If you look close, you can see the water that's used to put out the fire, frozen on the firefighters on the front line.
"These are some of the toughest, besides high heat. When it's this cold, it's very difficult on firefighters," said Horn.
Chief Horn says during these extremely cold days it's important to keep water moving, because it will freeze in the hoses.
“All the firefighters are frozen. Any surface it hits, it freezes."
EMS personnel were on scene looking for any signs of concern. John Cassidy says it's important for crews to keep an eye on themselves and each other, but his extra eye can be a lifesaver.
"As your body temperature starts to lower, your mind doesn't function as well, so you're likely to make more mistakes," said EMT John Cassidy of Allied EMS.
And mistakes can lead to injury, or even death.
“We keep a watch on temperature and any sign of change of color on their faces," said Horn.
