Between calls, there’s work to be done at the Brooklyn Park Fire Station.
Laundry might be the most important task especially after battling a fire, as dangerous carcinogens can coat a firefighter’s turnout gear, creating long-term health risks.
“Cancer is one of the big things, and just obviously any other unknowns,” said firefighter and paramedic Mike Christian.
Cleaning gear before wearing it again is imperative, but the drying part is challenging.
“You cannot put this [gear] in a dryer because it breaks down the protective, not only the abrasive protective, but also the thermal protection,” he said.
Typically, the crew would hang-dry their gear. Christian said that process would take roughly a day.
“We’d have gear hanging off of trucks, hanging off our mirrors. It would look like almost a costume party,” he said.