Get a glimpse into Phoenix firefighter academy training

PHOENIX — TV dramas like NBC’s “Chicago Fire” give us a taste of the dedication, bravery and selflessness of firefighters. They put their lives on the line every single day to protect us, rescue us and save our lives.

Their job is not easy, and it has not been easy since they began training for it.

This week the Phoenix Fire Department offered a sort of mini-training academy for media members. I jumped at the opportunity to get a glimpse of what those brave men and women do to prepare for duty.

Let me first say, I consider myself a fit person. I exercise nearly every day and feel strong and healthy, but this is a whole different kind of training.

It is no secret firefighters need to be strong. Putting on their firefighting gear, known as “turnouts,” is challenging. Complete gear can weight roughly up to 70 or 75 pounds.

It took me five minutes to dress up. From the boots, pants, and coat, to the helmet, gloves and air cylinder, gearing up was no easy task. On my 5-foot-2-inches and 125 pound frame, it felt like I had a backpack full of bricks on.

After suiting up came the hands-on drills. I aimed an ax towards the roof to make a straight line and for ventilation. The strength required is enormous. Arms and shoulders tired quickly, my breathing growing heavy.

Next up: confined space crawl. I really liked this one. Crawling in tight spaces is something firefighters often have to do to get where a victim or patient is. Tight, dark, damp or smoky, these are conditions firefighters have to go through while challenging their body, with the added weight to go through.

Walking in full turnout gear is a workout; going up flights of stairs wearing the gear is no joke. Only five flights of stairs and my breathing quickened, my chest pounding, I had to find a way to control my breaths and be in sync with my body to make it to the top.

The “Lines Aloft” challenge was the hardest one for me. Standing from a platform, pulling a rope with a fire hose attached at the end, was very hard to do. Fire hoses alone are heavy, as heavy as a tractor tire. Managing my grip as I pulled up the rope was the hardest thing I had to do, that and using a rope to pull a ladder down. Again, very grip-intensive maneuvers.

Opening a fire hydrant was one of my favorite parts of the challenges. I was able to use my body weight to make the lid turn. Feeling as every part of your body worked as I pushed and turned is unbelievable.

Next came the rescue mission. As the “plugman,” I was in charge of bringing the hose off the fire truck, hooking it up to the fire hydrant, and making the water run.

Then came going into a mock house fire, looking for any victims. My team found a victim (dummy) in a corner and dragged him out to safety. The dummy simulated pulling out a person, which as an adult can weight hundreds of pounds. Having the strength to pull him or her out, in full gear, no doubt an impressive feat.

During this academy we saw firefighters do demonstrations, from rescue missions to car extrications, putting out car and building fires to body locating using K-9 units. We also learned of all the unsung heroes that respond to our desperate calls for help, like crisis response Teams and clergy who administer last rites.

If I can characterize my few hours spent understanding what it takes to be a firefighter, I would say it takes a special kind of person to sacrifice themselves for all of us. Their goal: “Protecting Life and Property.”

Thank you Phoenix Fire Department for this humbling experience.