ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) – The bone-chilling cold makes it harder for local firefighters to do their job. Even just getting to the scene during the winter months can be an issue. Wintry weather, according to Lt. Jackie Sierra, with the Rochester Fire Department, can impact response times. She tells News 8, "This time of year is very challenging to us when we respond to calls... it starts before we even leave the firehouse, we get dispatched and depending on weather conditions, if the roads are slick if they are black out conditions with snow". However, once they are on scene, a whole new set of challenges arise. "With the cold we have challenges with hydrants, whether they’re shoveled or not, whether we can find them quickly and whether they’re frozen." "Thankfully with our operating procedures like securing multiple water sources to try to mitigate those challenges but it adds another layer of stress and the difficulty to the task." She adds that even if things go smoothly and there are no issues at the start, they might find some later on like the hydrants won't shut off because everything gets frozen. She referenced the Forbes Street fire and said that actually happened that night. When it comes to the wind playing a part, things can change very quickly. Lt. Sierra says they can increase intensity and change the flow path of the fire.