As four firefighters haul a motionless figure to safety, it is like a scene from a film.

On target - youngsters take part in a firefighting exercise at Dovercourt fire station. Picture: NIGEL BROWN (39995-3)

They burst from a smoke-filled bunker, struggling with the weight of the body.

To all intents and purposes, it is a real incident except the fire crew are as young as 14 and their casualty is a bag of sand.

This is Firebreak, an academy of school-age firefighters who have spent six weeks learning the rigours of the job.

The course has been completed by 13 children from Clacton, Walton, Beaumont and Wix in years ten and 11.

The purpose, quite simply, is to steer them on the right path and perhaps even produce one or two willing fire service recruits.

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Published Wednesday, December 22, 2004

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