And they need the practice, says Joe Walls, the department's battalion chief, who is also a West Valley City firefighter. Some of Walls' firefighters haven't seen much fire because they don't happen that often in Farmington.

But because they live in Farmington, training is serious. The next fire could be in one of their neighborhoods, Walls said.

The training seems to be working. Emerging from the newer of the two homes red-faced and sweat-drenched, firefighters congratulated each other and debriefed one another about what they learned and what they saw.

Jayson Scopel, who has volunteered with the Farmington department for five years, said he feels more prepared to serve the residents. And so does Shane Alexander, a Centerville police officer who joined the Farmington Fire Department in July.

Without the training, Alexander said, he'd have no real fire experience.

Even though this is work, Scopel and Alexander say there's an element of fun, too. It's amazing to watch a fire grow and belch smoke, and then, just before you're in danger, to put it out. Plus, you're with your buddies.

That's who you want to be with when there's blinding smoke, embers and raining insulation, and you plan to bail out an upper-floor window if things get too hot.

"It's a front-row seat to the greatest show on earth," Alexander said. "We'll do this till our legs fall off."

E-mail: jdougherty@desnews.com