The Myrtle Beach Fire Department hosted its first companion fire academy on Sunday to show the people closest to them what they do every day on the job.
The wives and significant others of 14 different firefighters suited up in their own turnout gear, went through the agility training course, climbed up the ladder on the engine, and even drove a fire engine at Sunday’s academy.
Chief of the Myrtle Beach Fire Department, Tom Gwyer says it’s important to show the people who support the firefighters at home what they do on the job.
“We try to disassociate our personal lives from our professional life, but some of the things that that we see, some of the things that we experience on the job, inevitably, we take home. Without the support of our family to be there it would make the job much more difficult,” Chief Gwyer said.