SUDBURY -- Greater Sudbury Firefighters are taking some intensive training that may help save their own lives.
They are learning how to protect and extricate themselves in Fire Ground Survival training.
"The skills are very important because we need to rescue ourselves in a situation when we don't have time for someone to come and help us. It's self-rescue, self-survival procedures." said instructor Jesse Fram.
During the training, firefighters learn survival skills like the 'head first ladder bail' and the 'window hang,' skills firefighters can use in a Mayday situation.
"A Mayday situation is when they are inside in a structure fire they could become lost, disoriented, injured, we are wearing breathing apparatus, they could have a malfunction of that breathing apparatus, they could have a malfunction, they could run low on air," said instructor Tyler Popowich.
Firefighters say conditions can change quickly in a structure fire.
"You gotta imagine a blacked out scenario where you can’t see a single thing, you can’t even see a hand in front of you. So when you are working in that kind of scenario the temperatures are really hot usually, and we are bailing out of a window, that means there is a critical incident has happened, something very escalated," said firefighter Steve Moyle.
Firefighters say the training is invaluable.
"It’s definitely a confidence builder, especially working with everybody, this is all fairly new training for a lot of us, so if and when that situation ever arises then if gives us something to fall back on to make you feel a little safer," said firefighter Vince Villa.
This trailer and simulator are courtesy of the International Association of Firefighters based in Washington. Instructors say the training is universal.
"The ability to be able to train and practise it and get it right in an environment, where the heat is not on so to say, that’s really important to us," said Fire & Paramedic Services Chief Joseph Nicholls.
Over one hundred fulltime firefighters have received this survival training. Over the next year 230 volunteer fighters will also receive it.