Trial by fire: Academy puts public officials through firefighter training

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Talk about getting thrown into the fire. 

From a crash course on using the jaws of life, to putting out a burning car, to stabilizing a patient.

Firefighters and paramedics from Oakway -  a coalition of eight fire departments across Oakland County, put 14 public officials through the ringer. 

Randy Wimbley suited up with them to get a taste of what first responders deal with every day and walked a proverbial mile through their shoes to get an idea of how they save lives.
 
"What I'm hoping to get out of this for the elected is to get an appreciation for what is actually going through," said Matt Majestic of the West Bloomfield Fire Department.  "And what the firefighters are dealing with on a daily basis and how it goes from one to another and just starts over again. 

"And there is never talk about, 'oh we don't have funding for this,' it's all about let's take care of the call. Let's take care of the people. I hope they get the appreciation of what it's like to do that task on a moment's notice."

Needless to say, that message is getting through.

"I'm on the verge of crying right now, I thought knew what they did," said Diane Swimmer, trustee West Bloomfield Twp. "I'm so thankful so grateful for them putting their lives on the line for strangers."