HAYWARD - In the face of flames and burning buildings, training is what ensures firefighters can save the day.

And Saturday, city of Hayward firefighters took the next step toward being at their best - even when facing the worst.

Every firefighter knows – training is everything.

"The better trained you are the better job you're gonna do," said Mike Herrmann, Hayward assistant fire chief.

The city of Hayward's volunteer firefighters pride themselves on training as much as they can, but for those who know the dangers of an angry blaze, a few reminder courses and a couple of hands on experiences a year don't cut it.

"It's still not enough to keep your skills where they should be," said Herrmann.

That's why firefighters from all over Sawyer County met Saturday in Hayward for a unique opportunity.

"It's not something that's real common," said Herrmann.

To the average person, a rusted, blue shipping crate might look ordinary.

But for firefighters, the steel burn trailer provides the types of real life situations they need to be ready for.

"If the basement isn't vented, that's the hottest part of that fire," said Herrmann.

The trailer, worth tens of thousands of dollars, was donated to the city of Hayward about a year and a half ago by Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College.

The training it now provides for small departments like Hayward is priceless.

"It's a good confidence builder for high heat, zero visibility," said Herrmann.

High heat in this trailer means temperatures of more than 1,000 degrees at ceiling level.

Every inch of skin must be covered, and visibility dips to zero.

"It's real easy to create the high heat and low visibility... If we're going to go into a working structure fire, that's the scenario we're gonna go in under," said Herrmann.

In the past, the Hayward Fire Department could do this type of training twice a year. Now, with the new trailer, they can do it six times a year.

The added training makes firefighters that much more prepared for the real life emergencies.

"They're better trained," said Herrmann.

Not only that, but using the trailer is saving time and money.

"One of the biggest benefits is the closeness. We don't have to travel, it's more low–key," said Hayward Fire Department Captain Charlie Munich.

"There's no paperwork," said Herrmann.

Shaving seconds off response time and improving teamwork could mean saving lives, a responsibility firefighting volunteers do not take lightly.

"The better-trained firefighters you have, the better the fire ground operations are gonna go," said Herrmann.

The Hayward Fire Department still practices fires on old, donated homes, but burning those existing structures involves more time and paperwork.

And as you turn back your clocks for daylight savings, remember to change the batteries in your smoke detectors.