INDIANAPOLIS — Firefighters from around the world are training here in Indianapolis this week.
That includes three firefighters from Ukraine. A Chicago-based organization brought them here to create more awareness about what they're facing in their home country.
A car pinned under a truck is a scenario firefighters are training on this week in Indianapolis. But the three Ukrainian firefighters listening intently have seen much worse.
"It's kind of a miracle that we are here," Roman Kachanov said.
The Ukrainian firefighters have been on the line since Russia invaded their country.
"We have experience of working with fires and different experiences with rocket and missile attacks," Kachanov said.
"This is what is happening in Ukraine right now. Figuring out how to get a job done with limited resources," Oleksii Chernomorchenko said.
What they've seen in their home country is unimaginable to us.
"A lot of people just lost everything — cars, apartments. I'm living without my family. Our family went to Germany," Kachanov said.
The Ukrainian firefighters knew about the Fire Department Instructors Conference from Instagram and YouTube. But now, they are here thanks to an organization called "Help Ukrainian Firefighters."
They're here to learn.
"What we can use when we rescue people in a collapsed house, collapsed building, we can train with this equipment," Sergiy Bilous said.
"It was hard condition, but it's made us stronger," Kachanov said.
This week, they'll be working alongside American firefighters, hoping to bring their training back to their home country and help their fellow Ukrainians.