Thousands of Fire Stations in the United States and Canada took a break from their normal routines today to focus on safety.
Its all part of Fire Fighter Stand Down Day..
Stand down day is a time for firefighters and other rescue workers to learn how to save a different life... their own.
"Every year there are over one hundred fire fighter fatalities and thousands of injuries around the country and we're trying to reduce that number. This day is a focus on that," says Ian Bennett, Chief of the Rockingham Fire Department.
Fire fighters took time to do thorough safety checks of all their equipment.
Across the country fifty percent of fire fighter fatalities are cardiac related.
Twenty five percent are related to driving or vehicle safety.
"We're gonna concentrate this year on vehicle accidents and safe driving policies, laws the state and how to avoid accidents."
One way to learn about how to keep themselves safe is to review case studies on accidents that proved fatal.
Past mistakes are teaching methods to remember for the future.
"Things like positioning apparatus where it would deflect other vehicles coming and could prevent further accidents," says Woody Brown, a Captain in the Rockingham Fire Department.
Fire fighters will resume their normal duties tomorrow.