VIDEO: Des Moines Fire Department is taking extra steps to make sure its firefighters stay safe in the heat. The public information officer, Brian O'Keefe, explained firefighters usually do not feel the heat because of their suits. They have to monitor themselves after they put out a fire. "We watch each other if you're dealing with higher heart rates, increased breathing, we have to be honest with ourselves. But with the mask and all the gear it's hard to detect that," said O' Keefe. The fire department also set up cooling areas and trucks with fans. O'Keefe said they do not call in extra people but they rotate calls for people who are working to make sure no one experiences heat exhaustion.