Firefighters train in containers in which fires can be lit, but the entire structure won’t catch on fire. © 2025 Kyra Ceryanek
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — When summer arrives, so do the usual fire safety reminders. But how do those running toward the flames stay prepared?
Across New York state, firefighters are sharpening their skills with live training exercises that simulate the intensity of real-life emergencies. The New York State Association of Fire Chiefs held a three-day program at the 2025 Expo Live Hands-On Training.
“Every fire is different,” said Paul Melfi, hands on training coordinator for the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs. “There are some similarities, but…I would say that every fire presents its own problem.”
The training scenarios are designed to help firefighters adapt to changing conditions by reinforcing techniques through repetition and real-time decision-making.
One training station at the expo focused on fire behavior and how it reacts to its environment — for example, how opening a door introduces oxygen that can change the fire’s movement. Firefighters practiced tactics such as Vent-Enter-Isolate-Search (VEIS), used in structure fires when a victim may be trapped, including entering through windows when doors are blocked and the victim’s location is known.
“This (training) reassures and retrains,” said Melfi. “You know, repetition in our business is really important.”
Firefighters engage in a session called “Entry Compass Operations” by splitting up teamwork between pulling hose lines into the building and crawling blind to find the fire. © 2025 Kyra Ceryanek
The sessions take place inside specialized structures where fires are safely lit. While the buildings are built not to catch fire, they allow crews to practice under realistic heat and smoke conditions.
“If somebody knocks a window or opens a door inadvertently, we can change the entire course of that fire almost to the point that it would run over the firefighters,” said Melfi. “We show them that inside so they can recognize the effects of someone making a mistake.”
Instructors say this controlled environment also gives them a chance to demonstrate how fires behave under different conditions.
“We can actually show firefighters—we put firefighters within the building and demonstrate the fire and how it travels and its different temperatures and heat waves,” said Melfi.
According to a study by the Gates Fire District in Rochester, New York state recorded the highest number of fire-related fatalities in 2024, with 138 deaths. That number has made training even more critical for departments across the state.
For Syracuse firefighters, the annual training not only builds individual skills, but also helps them serve as stronger assets to their teams—especially during the summer months, when the number of fire calls increase.
“As we approach the summer, obviously call volume will increase because that’s our busy season as well,” said East Syracuse Firefighter Tyler McTomany. “But today I’m taking the TIC class, which is the thermal imaging camera class. So that’s gonna help me bring back a skill set to others and also help myself better understand how to use the imaging camera to search for victims inside the fire or (to) tell where the fire is inside of that residence.”
Though the live training typically happens once a year, it offers a three-day window in which firefighters can choose different hands-on scenarios—some geared toward those preparing for leadership roles.
Instructors say they’re already planning for future training sessions to address emerging fire threats, including those involving electric vehicles.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: ‘That’s about as real as it gets:’ NY firefighters sharpen skills in live training scenarios ahead of summer
Myer Lee: The Syracuse Fire Department receives a spike in fire calls during the summer time.
Kyra Cetyanek: Firefighters across New York are taking active steps this month to ensure they are equipped to make the central New York community as safe as possible during this time.
Paul Melfi: Every fire is different… I would say that every fire presents its own problem.
Ceryanek: So, how do firefighters know how to best assess and rescue when they arrive on scene? By undergoing live training that exposes them to different scenarios and the latest tools and techniques.
Melfi: This reassures and retraines. You know repetition in our business is really important.
Ceryanek: The trainees practice on structures where real fires are lit, but it won’t actually catch fire..it’s the closest thing to a real life scenario they can create.
Melfi: If somebody knocks a window or opens a door inadvertently, we can change the entire course of that fire almost to the point that it would run over the firefighters. We show them that inside so they can recognize the effects of someone making a mistake.
Ceryanek: According to a study by the Gates fire district in Rochester, New York was the top state for fatalities by fire in 2024, with 138 deaths reported.stats like this make annual live training that much more critical for new york firefighters. For Syracuse firefighters, this training helps them feel like more of an asset to their crew and the people they serve, especially in a busy season.
Tyler McTomany: I’m taking the TIC class, which is the thermal imaging camera class. So that’s gonna help me bring back a skill set to others and also help myself. Better understand how to use an imaging camera to search for victims inside the fire or be able to tell where the fire is inside of that residence.
Ceryanek: Part of this training even focuses on preparing firefighters who want to become officers, giving them the opportunity to learn how to become the best decision-makers on scene. Myer, the coordinator even told me that fires involving electric cars are becoming a real issue – and it’s something he’s hoping to include in the next round of training.