ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Dangerously cold weather is creating added pressure on emergency responders in Minnesota, where three times the number of firefighters were needed to battle a house fire.
A house in St. Paul was covered in heavy ice as firefighters hauled hoses through the snow as temperatures plunged Wednesday to nearly negative 30 degrees (negative 34 Celsius).
Firefighters were told to spend no more than 10 minutes fighting the fire before heading to a transit bus to warm up. Hose lines and hydrants froze, and a ladder truck was disabled by the cold.
The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports that Assistant Fire Chief Mike Gaede says 40 to 50 firefighters worked the fire.
Firefighters took the three adults and four children to a fire station where the Red Cross provided assistance.
———
Information from: St. Paul Pioneer Press, http://www.twincities.com
