Becoming a firefighter can be intimidating, but the DeKalb Fire Department is holding an event for people who want a taste of what the job’s about.

The department is preparing to host its third annual Citizens Fire Academy.

“I’d like to get at least one student or staff member from the university to participate,” Lt. Eric Hicks said. “We try to get people from all different facets of the community.”

The program, which is free for participants, aims to educate people interested in learning more about firefighting.

“People are curious to see the capabilities of the fire department, so we encourage them to come out and see,” said Kevin Larson, a firefighter and paramedic. “Everybody has a good time and stays safe.”

The department is able to offer the program for free because members of the DeKalb Firefighters Local 1236 union volunteer to teach, Hicks said.

Topics will include everything from structural firefighting, like battling a simulated fire, to automobile extraction and learning to use the Jaws of Life.

Participants will experience much of what real firefighters experience, including heat from a fire, the weight of the suit, the pressure of the fire hoses and more.

Potential program participants need to apply, and registration for the academy is usually first-come, first-served, Hicks said.

The academy will meet once a week for nine weeks starting in the fall. Each session will be two to three hours long, and each week a new topic will be covered.

The exact start date of the program has not been finalized, and neither has the date of the beginning of the application process. However, the nine-week program will begin around the start of September.

Since the program was started, about 20 to 25 people have participated each year. The program is open to anyone interested in joining, including NIU students and faculty, as well as DeKalb residents.

For more information about the program, call Hicks Monday through Friday at 748-8460.