Firefighters in Grand Island are putting their skills to the test.
'Rapid Intervention Training' helps better prepare firefighters for search and rescue techniques inside a building for a down firefighter.
It's a scenario firefighters never want to find themselves in, one of their own trapped inside a burning building.
"We train not go get into trouble, but firefighters get into trouble every once in a while," said G.I. Firefighter John Hogmire.
Sometimes a firefighter can go missing because they're tangled up or something has fallen on the first responder.
"So we have what is called a 'RIT' team which is set up at every fire," said Captain Bryan Stutzman.
If a firefighter calls mayday the team of three goes in after the firefighter in trouble.
"Our main objective is to get him out," said Hogmire.
Trainers say it's easier said than done there are many challenges facing firefighters like smoke, a heated environment, and sometimes an unstable structure.
That's why they use an ax to sound the floor. They're making sure they have a solid foundation in front of them to keep going.
"We gotta make sure our crews are going in making sure they are safe otherwise they can't help who they are going in for," said stutzman.
At the end of the day Tuesday's training is a success, everyone got out safely, and crews say they are confident in their skills should it happen during a real fire.
