PFR's Rehab Rig a lifesaving hot weather tool

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- Summertime's hot temperatures increase the risk of fire everywhere. And no matter where the fire is or how hot it is, firefighters will respond.

How do Portland firefighters cool down in hot weather? They use what's called a Rehab Rig, a unit that provides other essential equipment that a fire truck normally wouldn't have.

"We have a bathroom. We have lots of water, we have Gatorade. We've got shade," said Gary Fergus, a firefighter and EMT with Portland Fire & Rescue. "We also replace the bottles but firefighters breathe through their air bottles."

PFR Rehab Unit 5 is brought in fully equipped to make sure firefighters who must work in scorching temperatures are safe. When it's this hot, firefighters will use up more air and sweat more. It's harder to cool down after leaving a burning building.

"The recommended amount of water to be drinking for firefighters is about a quart an hour under these extreme heat conditions," Fergus said.

There are specific procedures firefighters have to follow while working in these conditions.

"After you go through one bottle of air, you are supposed to go through rehab and spend at least 10 minutes and you take your coat off and you drink a bottle of water," he said. "If you go further go through two bottles, you actually need to spend 20 minutes in rehab and they take your vital signs before and after."

The breaks are obviously very important. If a firefighter's blood pressure is too high, they have to stay in rehab longer and may even be seen by a paramedic.

KOIN 6 News will have more information later in the night.