People are talking to me but it's hard to hear what they're saying with a heavy helmet blocking my ears and a breathing mask that makes me sound like I should be in Star Wars.

It's not a situation I thought I'd find myself in, but on Thursday morning, I was finding out what life was like as a firefighter.

As a journalist you spend a lot of time talking to the local firefighters. But it's not often you get a chance to experience some of the things they deal with on a daily basis.

This week, four members of the media were given that opportunity. The Dubbo Fire Station doors were thrown open to be a 'Firefighter for a Day'.

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After learning about the fire station and what we would be doing that day, we got dressed into the firefighting gear: heavy pull-over pants and jacket, an air mask connected to a tank so we'd be able to breathe in the smoke, a protective helmet and finally, gloves.

Decked out in the heavy gear, we're given our scenario: we need to search the room full of smoke to see if there is anyone still left inside.

Part-way through the search a high-pitched alarm sounds. It's me, my air is running out.

I have to evacuate the room while my partner carries on the search.

A mother and baby dummy are rescued.

We learn how to unfurl a fire hose, then it's our next rescue operation. This time, we're acting like someone is trapped in a car and we need to use the jaws of life to get the car doors open.

Guided by the experts, I open and close the jaws, busting through the metal bit by bit. Each bit of progress is accompanied by a loud crack until we can finally break open the door.

With each rescue undertaken, there's a sense of achievement within the group.

Throughout our time at the station we also had the opportunity to test the fire hose, go for a ride in the truck and learn about the many and varied jobs NSW Fire and Rescue may get called to at any time.

When we get the chance to take our heavy gear off at the end of a busy, educational morning, everyone has a little bit more appreciation for what our firies go through every day.