MAGNA — Hefting that fire hose while packed in bulky safety gear to put out a training-exercise trailer fire did plenty for Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon.

Even at 6 foot 2 and "something over 200 pounds," Corroon admitted he got a first-hand taste of how hard firefighters work. It was all part of the second "Fire School 101," an exercise held Saturday to educate the elected officials and policy makers who govern firefighting and emergency medical services.

The site was the Unified Fire Authority (UFA) fire-training center at 3950 S. 8000 West. Classroom training and hands-on work was offered by UFA members and the event was sponsored by the International Association of Fire Fighters, Salt Lake County Fire Fighters Local 1696.

After the firefighters handled a few smaller blazes, the group of political leaders — outfitted with proper safety clothing, masks and oxygen tanks — took on their assignment of extinguishing a training fire set in a mobile home on the site.

Just the firefighting gear alone was impressive, Corroon said.

"It's pretty heavy," he said. "It gives you an appreciation of what they go through on a 100-degree day."

What surprised him the most was how much they have to do in an emergency.

"It's not just getting out of a truck and pulling a fire hose out," Corroon said, listing a series of measures that must be executed quickly before attacking a fire. "It's surprising how much training they have to go through on a continuing basis to maintain their expertise."

Taylorsville Mayor Janice Auger, chairman of the United Fire Authority Board of Directors, helped shape the unified program effort for more than four years before its 2004 inception, so she's quite familiar with firefighting matters. Still, Saturday's educational exercise was worth it, she said.

"I do think I've learned how important the necessary manpower is," she said. "If they're short-staffed, it takes longer, and every second counts whether they're fighting a fire or dealing with cardiac arrest."

Most Unified Fire Authority trucks are staffed with four people, but some have only three. A future goal is to bring staffing up to four people on the vehicles, she said.

"The public will be safer with an additional person," she said.

Also taking part were House Speaker Greg Curtis, R-Sandy; Taylorsville city administrator John Morgan; Riverton City Council members Gayla Brinkerhoff, Roy Tingey, Al Leavitt and Lisa Mariano; and Evan Gabrielsen, who is helping Riverton with emergency planning.

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