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This week applicants are pouring into the El Paso Fire Department to be the next ones to fight the flames.

I want to be a firefighter because they're really involved with the community, said Daniel Cazares whos applying for the job. It's a well-paying job and it's a good career, too.

The department is looking for about 40 new firefighters. Some recruits who have taken classes at community colleges have already started training.

Training is intense. To get ready for a training exercise, recruits have only one minute to change into their suits and load up their gear. Then they go through a maze. Trainees have to crawl through narrow spaces and figure their way out -in the dark. It's excellent training, said Daniel Boisselier after coming out of the maze. We're under a controlled environment so naturally I guess I could say it's not as difficult.

Fire officials use this exercise to detect claustrophobia as well as for search and rescue missions. It also helps future firefighters keep their cool under pressure.

Being a firefighter is always about fighting flames.

As a firefighter you also have to become an EMT, which is an emergency medical technician, explained El Paso Fire Departments Captain Keith Burch. A very good portion of calls that we make [answer] are medical calls.

In fact, last year the fire department answered 45, 442 medical calls compared to 1,959 calls to put out fires. Trainees will also learn how to handle hazardous material situations.

A rare sight in the line of applicants are females. Out of El Pasos 873 firefighters, only 14 of them are women.

We're always looking to get more female employees. We have some that are applying right now, Burch said.

Complete training will take about six months. Training is scheduled to begin in April. Applicants should apply in person at 6800 Delta, Ascarate park, from 8a.m.- 5p.m., November 5 to 9.

Some of the requirements include having a high school diploma or GED. Applicants must be 18 years old by Dec. 31, 2007, and have a Texas Class C drivers license. For a complete list of requirements, applicants can log on to the City Web Site.