High FL Heat Index Sends FFs Battling Blaze to Hospital

Two Florida firefighters were hospitalized Thursday after battling a large fire at a tire recycling facility near a chemical plant that had 26 crews responding.

The St. Lucie County firefighters suffered heat-related injuries as they tackled the blaze at Liberty Tire while the heat index was extremely high, WPTV-TV reports. Both firefighters were released and are recovering.

“It is physically and mentally taxing especially in the summer time,”  Battalion Chief Mark Cristaldi told the TV station. "Whether we are inside or outside, it’s the same conditions, it’s still hot. We don’t have the ability to dissipate that heat we are putting off. Even a basic car fire putting your gear on It feels like an oven."

Crews responded to the fire just before 8 a.m., and they were able to contain the flames and stop them from spreading. No employees at the facility were hurt, WPTV added.