When others run out, they run in Published March 5, 2008 By Sgt. Jasmine Chopra 302nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment LSA ANACONDA, Iraq -- It's 8 a.m. and every on-shift firefighter here is knocking out pushups in unison, a welcomed tradition Soldiers and Airmen on LSA Anaconda have come to enjoy. These professionals from the 8th Ordnance Company and the 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron Fire and Emergency Services/ Civil Engineer Fire (ECES/CEF,) knock them out to celebrate birthdays, praise one another for accomplishments and as collective punishment for blunders. After the pushups comes a full day of training, maintaining equipment, familiarization with aircraft, and the mental and physical preperation for saving lives and property. When others run away from emergencies, they run toward them. Fire station personnel jointly perform rescue and firefighting operations during structural fires, aircraft crashes, vehicle emergencies, terrorist attacks and natural disasters. While deployed, they handle more emergencies in a month than they normally would in an entire year back at home. "Being a firefighter is an immense responsibility so we train everyday," said 916th Air Refueling Wing Reservist Tech Sgt. Michael Wenthe, training officer with the 332nd ECES/CEF. "It's a mission firefighters can be proud of," he said. The Airmen and Soldiers here constantly strive to develop their skills and increase their expertise, according to Wenthe. Almost all of them are enrolled in career allows firefighters to increase their knowledge by working on Army and Air Force aircraft and equipment. During training, they sometimes don high-tech, multi-layered specialty clothing that can withstand temperatures beyond 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit and carry a self-contained breathing apparatus while terminating simulated fires. Other training may include providing intravenous therapy, triaging simulated victims or operating large vehicles and specialized equipment. Among one of the most important pre-emergency response tasks firefighters perform is equipment checks. The time to discover a malfunction is not when you have to respond to an emergency, according to Air Force Tech Sgt. Mark Abrahamson, the B shift station captain. Though firefighters deal with devastation and loss and the serious nature of their job demands professionalism always, the collective vibe at the station is fun. "We take the job seriously, but we have a good time," said Abrahamson.