Firefighters Battle Freezing Temps to Keep Water Flowing

Quick response time and water circulation are critical during winter emergencies.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 5:47pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

With temperatures below freezing, fire crews in Charlottesville, Virginia face extra challenges when responding to emergencies. Deputy Fire Chief William Broscuous says keeping water moving is key to preventing equipment from freezing and ensuring normal operations.

Why it matters

Freezing temperatures create additional obstacles for firefighters, who rely on water to extinguish fires. Maintaining water flow is critical to their ability to effectively respond to emergencies during the winter months.

The details

Fire crews must move quickly when responding to calls in the cold to not only put out flames, but also to keep their equipment, especially water, from freezing. Deputy Fire Chief William Broscuous explains that as long as the water is circulating, the chances of it freezing are lessened. The Charlottesville Fire Department says operations have been running normally so far this winter.

  • As of Wednesday, January 28, 2026, the Charlottesville Fire Department reports normal operations.

The players

William Broscuous

Deputy Fire Chief of the Charlottesville Fire Department.

Charlottesville Fire Department

The fire department serving the city of Charlottesville, Virginia.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“As long as the water is moving and circulating, the chances of it freezing are lessened.”

— William Broscuous, Deputy Fire Chief

The takeaway

Firefighters in cold-weather regions must be vigilant about maintaining water flow to prevent their equipment from freezing, which could impair their ability to effectively respond to emergencies during the winter months.