Ever wonder what it's really like to fight fires? So did local leaders who swapped their suits for firefighter gear in Clearwater on Saturday. They weren't just watching from the sidelines — they jumped right into the action at Fire Ops 101, a hands-on program that gives city officials a taste of what firefighters deal with every day. Imagine strapping on 70 pounds of gear before you even start working. That's exactly what these city managers and council members faced as they struggled just to walk around in full firefighter equipment. "This is a chance for specifically the elected officials that help us with our funding to see what we do. They literally walk in our boots," said Garth Swingle, Captain of St. Pete Fire & Rescue, who helped run the day's activities. The event brought together folks from 18 fire districts across Pinellas County, with four different training stations that put these officials through their paces. MORE: https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/community/city-leaders-day-in-firefighters-boots-st-pete-tampa-bay/67-f5bf8099-c524-44a7-96f5-145c3df51f72