Wildfire Academy prepares the next generation of firefighters

MARIN COUNTY, Calif -- In the Marin County Wildfire Academy, seasonal fighters face the flames and smoke as they prepare for the fire season.

"There's only so much you can learn in a book," Captain Matt Watson explains, "It's important that our firefighters are ready to fight fire in a real world application, getting used to that heat, getting used to that smoke and knowing how to combat that."

"It's really invaluable to be able to get out here," seasonal firefighter Julian Goldman adds, "until you really see it with your eyes, you can't get a good sense for how its going to behave in real life."

Trainees use hoses and hand tools, but they also learn about the importance of other tools like bulldozers and helicopters.

"All these components come together really to be able to fight fire effectively in a wildland environment," Goldman shares.

The academy serves an integral part in preparing to fight wildland fires.

"At the end of the day, we want to protect peoples homes, their property and their lives," Goldman states, "That's really an important piece that we are keeping all these resource available and firefighters well trained."