BOWLING GREEN, OH (Toledo News Now) - It's back to school this week for firefighters all across Ohio. They're brushing up on their skills and, for some firefighters, learning how to battle a blaze for the first time.
Instructors say this is the kind of training they need to get prepared for real life.
"A lot of things are there that you don't expect you're going to see and feel and hear," said Toledo Firefighter and Medic Kevin Ohrt.
Taking those first steps inside a home that's on fire takes confidence that's being built through lots of practice.
"(There's) zero visibility," said Rossford firefighter Tom Watson. "(It's) smoky, hot."
"A lot of the surrounding departments that are here at the school don't have the opportunity to fight live fires all the time," said Ohrt.
Surrounding departments are flocking to Wood County this week. 450 firefighters are attending State Fire School at Bowling Green State University for the chance to rappel from buildings and put out flames.
"As the industry gets better technology and the houses are built better, we're not having as many fires," said Watson. "It's nice when we can come to a place and practice."
More than 130 departments and brigades from Ohio, Michigan and Canada are part of this year's class.
Firefighter will be attending classes in and around Bowling Green through Friday. They'll earn a certificate for each course completed.
