Video

Rebecca Lopez reports

More Video

• View larger
• E-mail clip
• More video

Related videos/links:

• News 8 Weather

Search Video:

It was only a house fire, but in Lake Dallas 50 firefighters had to be called in because of the heat.

"It just goes to say that the heat plays a major role in what we do here and called in extra fire fighters," said Lake Cities Deputy Chief Chad Thiessen.

Two fire fighters suffered heat exhaustion and paramedics had to treat them on the scene.

"They've got 50 pounds of weight on them extra and then throw in gear that protects them from the fire as you can imagine insulating both outside and inside," Thiessen said. "It's a bad feeling when you are getting overheated and you're still at work."

Six cities had to send in fire crews to fight the three-alarm fire.

"We rotate crews fairly often too make sure they don't get too hot."

Firefighters do what everyone else does, they drink plenty of liquids to stay cool. They also try to stay in shaded areas to keep from getting overheated.

"We automatically get rehab unit out of Lewisville and they come in with extra water, Gatorade, towels, water towels that we put around our necks," Thiessen said.

A third firefighter was taken to the hospital because 50 pounds of sheetrock fell on top of him.

Commanders say what they do is dangerous but even more so on days when they fight not only fires, but also the heat.