Austin Fire Department's Pass The Torch Academy

The Austin Fire Department put dozens of people to the test and gave them hands on experience recently to see if the service is right for them.

The Pass The Torch Academy is a program that AFD sponsors and conducts. It's an intensive training exercise and gives people a glimpse of what firefighters often face.

Participants train two weekends a month for six months. FOX 7 recently watched as they worked on swift water rescues.

33 people are participating in the academy.