VIDEO: The West Lafayette Fire Department Citizens Academy took place on Kalberer Road at the West Lafayette Fire Station 3 on Saturday morning.
Starting at 8 a.m., local community members and officials of West Lafayette were able to step into firefighter gear for the day. The West Lafayette Citizens Academy is in it's third year.
"We break the citizens up into a couple of teams, and try and have them about the same size teams as how we operate. Just three or four people at a time. And then we have them switch. We give them breaks in between because a lot of this, is hard," said Fire Chief Jeff Need.
On scene action included EMS, fire attack, engine operations, forcible entry and extrication.
Participants were also able to sit in on a fire flow demonstration and experience the operation of an aerial ladder, with an overlook of West Lafayette.