In reality, much more goes on behind the scenes, with these men and women spending gruelling hours making sure they're ready to tackle any emergency ... and putting almost as much energy into making sure they don't happen in the first place.

I had my eyes opened to all that goes on when I spent a day with Green Watch at Falkirk Fire Station.

A typical shift starts with general duties, checking and maintaining equipment, making sure everything is prepared and ready, and that goes as much for the firefighters as it does for all the aids that they use.

There are nine firefighters on each of the four shifts which operates
out of Falkirk. A further 11 retained firefighters work part time.

After breakfast, it's time for first duties of the day ... training.

On the day I was there, the exercise involved the training building at the rear of the fire station.

Entering into the fake burning building was terrifying.

With the extra thick jacket and trousers on, gloves and helmet and then
the heavy breathing apparatus on my back, I could barely walk, never mind put out a fire.

Inside, the building was pitch black

I didn't have to contend with the thick, black smoke that would have made it even darker if it had been a real fire.

Nor was there the fierce heat that a real fire would have brought. Yet I was so hot by the time I came out, I was almost ready to drop.

It was incredibly frightening, and this was just a small insight into the challenges faced by firefighters every day.

Andy Mackay has been a fire fighter for 23 years, and has been manager at the Falkirk station for the last two-and-a-half.

He said: "It's a high stress job at times, but I do really enjoy it.

"I remember a big fire at Graeme High, when there were children still in the school. It was thought that there were people still in the gym hall.

"That was a really tough day – coming out and then having to go back in again to try to find them. We do take risks where there is a savable life."

He went on: "Firefighters face risks on a daily basis from fire, and the effects of fire. That's why training is so important - so we can assess the risks and ensure we make the right decision."

Training might involve working with other stations or with the New Dimensions equipment - which would be used by Falkirk firefighters in the event of a terrorist attack or environmental spillage. If something were to happen, firefighters would be at the centre of the decontamination process.

This equipment also includes a high volume pump, which has been well used in dealing with flooding across the district in recent years.

Afternoons are spent doing community and school visits, or doing fire safety checks in people's homes.

Alternatively, they are used for Section 92d visits where checks are carried out at places like Falkirk Royal Infirmary or other major buildings in the command area.

On the day I was there, Green Watch carried out one of these visits at Polmont Young Offenders Institution.
With so much construction work going on at the YOI, it is important firefighters are aware of changes to entrances and exits in case of an emergency.

As well as studying plans of the site, they tour the cells, and are shown how to get into the cells in an emergency.

But, in between all of this, there is still the important business of fighting fires.

We had just arrived back from the visit to the YOI and Andy was demonstrating the hydraulic cutting equipment which is used to free people trapped in cars when the alarm sounded.

I travelled to the incident at the High Flats in Andy's car – complete with blue lights flashing, and siren blaring.

We arrived to discover a false alarm - a smoke alarm had sounded in one of the flats.

However, because if it had been a fire, it would have been a major incident, three tenders had to attend.

The very -embarrassed householder was advised to keep his kitchen door closed when he does the cooking to avoid any unnecessary call outs in the future!