For the first time, city staff stepped into Charleston firefighters boots and flame-retardant suits Monday as part of a crash course-style fire academy to give perspective on what firefighters do.
In the same vein as a similar program, the Citizens Police Academy, where citizens can get an idea of what is done law enforcement, Monday night’s pilot exercise gave city staff to chance to don the uniform and participate in training exercises at the fire training facility.
Steve Bennett, Charleston fire chief, said the fire department wanted to give city staffers interested in participating the chance to see what the firefighters do and what equipment they use to do it.