BEND, OR -- Bend City Councilors and Deschutes Rural Fire District board members got a first-hand look at Fire Department training Thursday. The mini fire academy offered CPR, structure fire, and vehicle extrication demonstrations.

Fire Chief Todd Riley tells KBND News he's impressed with their eagerness to take part, “When I asked who wants to be involved in these evolutions every hand shot up. Our rural district board members, our city councilors. Everybody suited up, everybody is ready to participate and it’s fantastic. The smile on their faces made this whole thing worthwhile.”

Riley called the event instrumental for the relationship between the Department, and elected officials, “Until you get to witness first hand or even experience the struggles, the challenges…When we’re asking for support from council or the rural district, if they can appreciate what goes into this job, the more likely they are to support us in whatever we’re asking for.”

Officials put on firefighting gear and operated equipment at the Bend Fire and Rescue Training Center. City councilors Mike Reilly, and Megan Perkins were impressed after handling a fire hose. “I can see why people very actively train. Keep yourself healthy, right. If you’re not strong enough you’re going to get injured,” said Reilly, with Perkins adding, “Not only how physically fit you have to be but how well you have to work together.”

These were standard training exercises practiced regularly by firefighters, “We have to simulate fire attacks. We have to simulate vehicle extrications. And so, when we can put it altogether and have the audience of our elected officials it’s just that much more special,” Chief Riley said.