About 60 firefighters from across the central west gathered in Wellington for a two-day Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) skills and training workshop.

Firefighters from as far as Lighting Ridge took part in a number of core skills drills including a 'may day drag', which is how to look after firefighters in the event they suffer a medical episode or get into trouble.

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Replicating real life situations, crew members also navigated their way through a smoke filled building, using thermal imaging cameras to locate and rescue a dummy.

Participants also brushed up on their breathing apparatus skills and practised their gas cooling techniques to protect occupants and fellow crew members.

Thirteen training staff were bought from the FRNSW emergency services academy in Orchid Hills to deliver the latest information.

FRNSW is the combat agency for hazardous material incidents in NSW. The training also included a refresher course on gas detectors, located on each fire truck.

Visitors from the triple zero (000) communications centre also attended the event and discussed new radios with increased capabilities, which were being rolled out across the state, along with new two-way pagers which will be rolled out to regional firefighters.

Superintendent Greg Wright said the drills were crucial in helping regional firefighters maintain the skills required to best protect their local communities.

"It's an opportunity for firefighters to share ideas and share experiences," he said.

"For example a firefighter at Lightning Ridge might feel isolated and that they're the only ones that are experiencing a particular issue, but if we can get them together and share ideas and hear that people are having similar issues, or if someone came across an issue but they dealt with it a particular way, they can take that back and share that with their crew, and have a better resolution for the community."

Deputy commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell, in charge of field operations for FRNSW, along with assistant commissioner of education and training Roger Mentha also attended the training, which participants said was a "refreshing sight" to see them take part as equals.

"Training activities such as this are absolutely critical to ensuring that our operational skills are the best they can be, so that we are able to safely and effectively deal with emergency incidents," deputy commissioner Fewtrell said.

"It was great for me to join the training with the firefighters who attended over the two days and see first hand their commitment to training and improving their operational skill sets."

"It is important that those who attended the training sessions go back and share their learnings with their crews and train with them to reinforce and embed these skills."

Mr Wright said anyone interested in becoming a retained firefighter should visit fire.nsw.gov.au or call 1800 347 437 to speak to someone in their nearest zone office.