Serena Donley of Pekin is a wife and a mother. But she's also a volunteer firefighter, whose passionate about saving lives.

"That comes from being a giver of life you want to preserve it," Donley told News 25. "I have a really good, sturdy support group at home. My kids will say, 'Mom, your pager's going off. Go."

Donley's kids knew where mom was headed Saturday – the Tazewell County Firefighter's Association training program. They've been doing this for 25 years now, firefighters from all over the state showing volunteer fireman learn the latest techniques and technologies.

"Houses are made out of different materials now," said firefighter Jarret Pine of Deer Creek Fire and Rescue. "There are more plastics, more different types of wood. Instead of the house being all wood and having regular fire smoke, now you've got different kinds of chemicals in the air."

There are a dozen specific kinds of training sessions, including an extrication class – how to get somebody out of, or out from underneath a damaged vehicle. Instructor Jim Dotson of the Illinois Fire Institute says some smaller stations are called to as many wrecks and fires.

"We're doing it probably once or twice a week," said Dotson. "And the rural fire departments like most of these guys are coming from, they're probably seeing one once every two weeks or so. And they've got to know how to do it and think fast, safely."

Taylor ville firefighter Nick Hackney admires the volunteers he's helping to train.

"These guys are a great group of guys. They do the same thing I do and they do it for free. They spend time away from their families just like I do. Most of them are trained to the same skill level as anyone else in the fire service."

This year a record 300 firefighters are participating in the training. Because inside of each one of them there's a burning desire to keep the rest of us safe.