LEWISTON — The era of firefighters sitting around the station idle, waiting for a call have been over for a long time. Today’s firefighting requires constant training and equipment upkeep as they learn how to coordinate and use new technology.

There are several certified trainers on the Lewiston Fire Department. Assistant Chief Mark Anderson is one. He plans each week’s training schedule with different locations, situations and equipment.

Recently Lewiston firefighters have been training on new equipment funded through a grant from the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation. In addition to hands-on training, there is a lot of classroom training, where they use a whiteboard to go through different scenarios.

“I’ve always said that knowing when to utilize something and how to put it into work for the best application is always our best option,” LFD certified trainer Troy Caillier said.

Several calls over the past few weeks have seen all the training pay off, including one April 6.

The 911 dispatch began receiving reports of fire coming from the top floor of a large, three-story apartment early in the evening at 198 College St. in Lewiston.

When firefighters arrived, the first order of business was to make sure all the occupants were safe and out of the building. That is always paramount.

Every firefighter has assigned, well-rehearsed responsibilities. It’s like watching a combination of a football team breaking from a huddle and a ballet troupe performing a dance. The biggest difference is it’s not sport or entertainment; it is often a matter of life or death.

Old-school firefighting techniques may have been to attack the flames from the outside first, trying to knock them down before entering the building.

On April 6, however, a platoon of firefighters raced up the stairs, carrying about 60 pounds of equipment, dragging hoses, rushing to find the source. Within a few minutes of arrival, they were knocking down flames before they could spread and consume the building.

It was hours before the crews finally left the scene after tearing out walls and ceilings to make sure there was no “extension”of fire that could rekindle. It was a “good save,” as fellow firefighters and others commented on social media.

The difference between losing a building and saving it can be a matter of a few minutes.

With all the hands-on training, and acquired skills and knowledge, coupled with experienced leaders, it improves the chances that firefighters will be able to do their job, not only fighting fires but also rescuing people from situations where life hangs in the balance.

Returning to the station safe is the ultimate goal. The odds of that improve with a well-trained staff.