Our first responders have a tough job every day, but when dealing with record-breaking temperatures it's extra challenging.
Action News stopped by Detroit's Engine 40 Ladder 17 on the city's west side. They had just put out a fire at a vacant liquor store.
Firefighter Cooley told us, "When that bell goes off, our mindset is always go."
However, their jobs are made even more difficult when it's so brutally cold.
"It's extreme pain," Cooley said. "The extremities are the worse because we lose feelings in them quick."
When they're done with fighting a fire, they still have more work to do. It can take a couple of hours for frozen hoses and equipment to thaw and be usable again.
"Our firefighters are trained," said Chief Christopher Dixon. "We make sure to wear extra clothing. It's mind over matter – just do your job."
But it's by no means easy.
"It's not easy at all, but there's never a time we're not prepared for it," Dooley said. "We've been prepared since we came out of the academy for this."
