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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Future firefighters got real life experience at the 15th annual Fire Explorer Academy.

The Explorer Academy is for youth ages 14-20 who are interested in becoming a firefighter.

It is a week-long event that involves hard work, long days and of course some fun.

"Well my broth er entered this about three years ago, he entered the Fire Explorers, and he was always talking about how cool it was, how fun it was and how fun the academies were, and I said 'wow that sounds fun, why not? why don't I join?'" Austin Noel, a current Explorer, said.

For seven days he and the other 21 Explorers got a real taste of what it's like to be a firefighter.

"It's definitely giving a little sneak peek at what the real academy is going to be," Noel said.

"It is the best academy I've ever been to, to be honest. It's a lot of fun. We have a lot of good instructors that are coming out, and it's great," Gabriella Sanzo, a current Explorer, said.

For firefighters these days, the job is more than just fighting flames.

"We're also doing medical because about 90 percent of calls are medical calls, so we need to know that too," Sanzo said.

Firefighters also must be trained on high angle rescues, so the academy includes a station where they repel down a large brick building.

"Repelling is really fun 'cause you get the rush of going down a huge building, and I'm really looking forward to climbing the 109 foot ariel ladder," Noel said.

Current firefighters said the Explorers are the future of our community and our fire service.

"They'll be a chief someday, and I'll be working for them," CSFD Capt. David Broch said.

The current class of Colorado Springs Fire Department Recruits are also going through their academy.

Broch said two of them are former Fire Explorers.

For more information about the program click here or call (719) 385-7244

The next orientation is in August.