A first of its kind training created to protect firefighters from homemade explosive devices took place Saturday.
The training in an empty field near Boulder City was all about Homemade Explosives: Awareness, Recognition and Response.
"The safety of the community but also the safety of the technicians in those first responders that go out there," says Shon Saucedo, Las Vegas Fire Rescue Bomb Squad.
Firefighters and Explorers from Las Vegas Fire & Rescue along with other first responders took part in the demonstration with the hopes of saving lives.
"First responders are always going to these houses and may see some of these components are products that are together," says Saucedo. "If they see that it doesn't belong they can call the right people to get out and check that out."
Saucedo says the kinds of explosions shown during the event can happen on the job, possibly inside homes and involving materials that are everyday household items.
"Coffee grounds, things like that that were in that you would find anywhere in your garage or under your kitchen sink."
This crucial training takes place in addition to classroom time and is the first of its kind to happen here in the Las Vegas area for first responders.
The hope is this training will keep folks alive.
"Keeping themselves safe to go home at the end of their shift and protecting their team and going home safe to their families," said one participant.
