So how do you fight fires in Antarctica, the coldest, driest, and windiest place on Earth? Despite the temperatures, Fleurette says they still use water pumped through hoses. The key is to keep the water constantly moving inside the pumper truck so it doesn’t freeze. They also don't turn the water on until they are ready to spray the fire; any liquid left inside the hose will freeze in just a few minutes. The custom Antarctic fire trucks come with stainless steel valves. That's because the reverse osmosis process that turns seawater into water for the base also leaches minerals from other types of metal pipes, Fleurette says.
Out at the McMurdo ice runway, firefighters stand by for every incoming flight with special deicing foam made with ethylene glycol and "purple K" or potassium bicarbonate--that are smother engine fires or dripping oil. Firefighters use similar sprays and foams up north, but these variants used at McMurdo are rated for 40 degrees below zero.
Firefighters also have to be dressed and ready to work in any condition, Fleurette says. "Wind is king," he says. "When we are approaching an emergency we prepare for some serious constant winds." Frostbite is a constant threat, even in sunny weather. That's because of the adiabatic winds that can blow for days at a time from the South Pole toward McMurdo, creating perfect conditions to whip up flames.