MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE BARSTOW, Calif. -- On a windy cloudless morning the students of the Victor Valley College Fire Academy awaited the chance to test their fire resistant suits, and to practice their skills of handling fires May 20 at the fire training facility here.The exercise was intended for the students to practice skills, which they learned in an eight-week, state-certified course, said fire Capt. Tom Turner, the training coordinator for the Victor Valley High Desert Fire Academy. There were two different types of training equipment used in the exercise. A concrete house was used to simulate how fires can react in a house or building environment, and a series of train boxcars were used to simulate specific scenarios which could occur in a fire.At the concrete house four fire-fighting teams were given the task of fighting off the raging flames. One team put out a fire on the second floor, while another team fought a fire on the first floor. The third team cut a hole in the roof for ventilation, and the fourth team worked outside the house to support to the other teams, said Turner.The train boxcars were used to simulate a search and rescue, and what is known as a “flashover.” In the search and rescue exercise, a team had to safely find the source of a fire and put it out. Following the extinguishing of the fire, the firefighters proceeded to “rescue” a dummy from the danger area to safety.The second exercise simulated a “flashover” scenario. A flashover occurs when everything inside of a room or hallway reaches its maximum combustible temperature and ignites causing a flame to flow on the ceiling of the structure. “Not many firefighters can say that they have survived a flashover,” said Turner.Fortunately, with the advanced training, firefighters will have a chance in the case that a flashover should happen, said Turner.Jason Rolston, a 19-year-old student from Big Bear City, said he thinks the students exceeded the expectations of the instructors. He said he felt the training was very useful for the students to gain valuable experience.“The training was a lot better than the classroom, because it gave us a real life experience,” Rolston said.The classroom training was eight weeks long and made up of a state curriculum approved by the National Fire Protection Agency. Students must be over 18 years of age and have a State of California Emergency Medical Technician Certification. Following graduation from the academy, students must have six months of active experience or one year experience with a volunteer fire company to become a certified firefighter.Fighting fires can be physically demanding, said Turner. To get the students into fire fighting shape they run a physical conditioning program every morning. Turner said that some students have even lost 50 pounds on the program.With the future of firefighters being trained at the fire training facility here, citizens should be confident in the fire department’s ability to save and rescue lives, said Turner. However, he said, with the fire season upon us, fire safety and prevention should be in the forefront of everyone’s mind this summer.