Many of the men and women who signed up to take on “Fire Ops 101,” weren’t trained to withstand the heat.
But it didn’t stop them from getting hands-on experience with Pinellas and Pasco County firefighters to learn how to do the job.
“I knew it was a strenuous job but you get the feel of what they really get inside of that uniform," said Travis Jones, trainee.
The purpose of “Fire Ops 101” is to give tax payers and elected officials the chance to suit up and see what really comes along with the job.
"It gives them an idea of what we go through and what it takes to do our job so that when they make decisions for budget and other decisions, they'll have a more informed way of making that decision," said Winthrop Newton, Vice President of the 2nd district Florida Professional Firefighters.
The men and women who wear the suit daily say this hands-on experience is also a chance to warn the public about summer. Officials say they take a lot of heat related medical calls during this time his time of the year.
"Hydrate, stay cool as much as possible. Don't wait until the middle of the day to mow your lawn or do your strenuous activities. Do it in the morning or in the evening when the temps have cooled down a bit," said Lealman Fire District Chief Jim Millican.
"I definitely tip my hat to each one of [the firefighters]," said Jones.
The event was presented by the Pinellas County Fire Chiefs Association, the Pinellas local affiliates of the International Association of Firefighters and St. Pete College's Southeastern Public Safety Institute.