WASHINGTON — Putting out fires and saving lives is an intense and stressful job, and a class in Prince George’s County Tuesday will aim to demonstrate just how difficult it can be.
“It’s a lot of strenuous activity that pushes the human body to the limit,” says Mark Treglio, director of strategic campaigns for the International Association of Firefighters.
The IAFF is hosting Fire Ops 101 at the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute in College Park.
The all-day class provides demonstrations of real-life scenarios that firefighters experience, including trying to locate a victim in a smoke-filled, burning building and prying someone from a car using the Jaws of Life.
A number of elected officials plan to attend, including Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.
“Everybody comes away with a better understanding of the job that’s done every day in the communities across the United States,” Treglio says.
The IAFF represents more than 300,000 full-time professional firefighters and paramedics throughout the United States and Canada.
