LAKELAND, Fla. (WTSP) -- Even in extreme heat, firefighters have to wear their full gear when they're called out.
The Lakeland Fire Department demonstrated how hot it can get in that gear using its thermal imaging camera. They typically use it to search for people or hotspots in a burning building.
Lt. Matt Brown took firefighter Joe Allison's surface temperature before he put on the gear. It measured around 85 degrees.
Allison suited up, putting on his pants, jacket, air tank, mask and helmet. While he was getting dressed in the sun, his surface temperature was around 119 degrees. When he was fully dressed in the shade, it was up to 15 degrees warmer than without the gear on.
The jacket and pants are both two layers.
"So I'm wearing an insulated coat that's just trapping the heat in," Allison said.
Next time you complain about the heat, remember what these guys are wearing while risking their lives to save you and your property.
