Whether it is a building fire downtown or a chemical explosion in a UF laboratory, Gainesville Fire Rescue firefighters are always on the move.
With Gainesville Fire Rescue on constant alert for emergencies, the department will give city residents and students an opportunity this March to spend a day in a firefighter’s shoes.
Gainesville Fire Rescue announced Tuesday that applications for the department’s Second Annual Gainesville Fire Rescue’s Citizens’ Fire Academy are now available, according to a GFR news release.
It is free to apply, and applicants must be at least 18 years old. The form must be submitted to Gainesville Fire Rescue by Feb. 7. Only 20 people will be accepted into the academy.
The event, which will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 9, will give participants a glimpse into the life of a firefighter.
For the entire day, participants can work with GFR firefighters in several exercises, which include handling a fire hose, cutting open a car and working with medical equipment, all while wearing safety equipment, according to the release.
Krista Gonzalez, Gainesville Fire Rescue’s risk reduction specialist, said the academy will be held in the spring rather than summer because of the heat.
“We are hoping that by holding the event in March, the participants will get the same experience, but be a little more comfortable,” she wrote in an email.
Applications are available online at www.gfr.org.
Contact Chris Alcantara at calcantara@alligator.org.
