Recent wicked weather has caused several problems for Suffolk's firefighters as they battle flames in the freezing cold.

With fires in Middle Island, Coram, Lake Grove and Centereach all in the past few days, the extreme cold is causing great difficulty for the county's bravest. At a fire on Westfield Road in Middle Island, three firefighters were sent to the hospital. One was treated for smoke inhalation, while the other two slipped on ice. One firefighter says the water with which they fought the blaze was freezing as it exited the hose.

Fire department officials ask residents to exercise caution as they make attempts at staying warm. Fires in fireplaces, space heaters and the use of ovens to heat a home are all potential hazards.