Yuma Fire Department uses rehab truck to keep firefighters safe

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - Yuma firefighters regularly work in triple-digit temperatures, often while wearing heavy turnout gear and battling the added heat of a fire.

To help protect its crews, the Yuma Fire Department (YFD) has a specialized rehab truck designed to give firefighters a place to cool down, hydrate and recover during demanding emergency calls.

The unit has served as YFD’s rehab truck for more than a decade after previously being used as a scuba dive truck. It is based at Fire Station 4 but can be called in by any YFD unit responding to an incident.

YFD Public Information Officer, Francisco Leon, says the rehab truck becomes especially important during the summer months.

“It’s really important. Especially during these summer months. You know, we get temperatures 110, 115 sometimes. You’re wearing all your turnout gear. You’re working hard. Heat of the fire adds to some of the stressors that we get during these calls. So yeah, it’s very important,” Leon said.

The truck is equipped with hydration packs, chairs and three air conditioning units to help firefighters cool down during and after calls.

The rehab unit can be deployed to a variety of significant incidents, including fires, hazardous materials calls and technical rescues. The unit is used even in the cooler months for the safety of local first responders.

Fire Captain Don Humphrey says the truck serves as a reactive tool for firefighters, while staying hydrated and spending time in air conditioning are important preventative measures.

“This is more of a reactive measure whereas staying hydrated, staying inside the air conditioning is more of a proactive measure. And we do a good job of doing both,” Humphrey said.

YFD says having these resources available helps crews recover more quickly and stay safe while continuing to respond to emergencies across the Yuma community.