Firefighters hold a Fire Ops 101 course

Community leaders got a firsthand look into the fire fighter experience today.

The Duluth Fire Fighter’s Union, along with the Duluth Fire Department and Lake Superior College held a “Fire Ops 101” event today.

Elected officials, business leaders, and media representatives donned the heavy fire fighter gear and were taken through a variety of different scenarios, designed to simulate the dangerous things firefighters do to save lives.

Pete Johnson, with the Duluth Fire Fighter’s Union, said “They get a little taste of everything, from ems, to live fire behind me, to search and rescue, auto extrication, that sort of thing.”

The purpose of the event is to help educate members of the community on the importance of fire fighter safety, as well as give people an idea on just how difficult the job can be.

Johnson said “There’s such a vast array of things that we do and a lot of the public and elected officials doesn’t quite realize the scope of things, and the scope of service we provide the community.”

This is the seventh time the fire fighters have put on this event. they host it once every two years. around 25 participants take part.