There have been fires all over the area since the heat wave started two weeks ago, including one in Denison on Sunday and another in Pottsboro Monday afternoon.

To protect themselves from the flames, firefighters wear heavy bunker gear.

"That's our number one concern is to take care of our firefighters," said Fire Chief Donnie Glenn.

All that protective gear in such an intense heat wave can raise their body temperatures to unsafe levels.

The thickness of the bunker gear and extreme heat is why firefighters have to cut their rotation time in half.

North of the Red River, in Bryan County, an emergency management team does just that.

"Through different departments and grants, we get water and Gatorade that we supply to the firemen and they are extremely dehydrated and exhausted once they get out of a building or fire," said Norman Campo, Coordinator of Bryan County Emergency Management, “We appreciate the firemen...There's no way I could do their job. My hats off to the firemen."