Scrambling into the cabin of a heavy tanker, ACT Parks and Conservation Service's firefighters pull foil down over its windows and set off sprays to cool the surrounding area.
They get down beneath the dash and cover themselves in woolen blankets; "because wool, being a natural fibre, doesn't burn as easy," learning and development officer Mark Beech says.
Thankfully, the burnover is just a drill for the some 180 parks staff who require fire training at the start of bushfire season - and it's not one Mr Beech hopes will have to be repeated for real in the coming months.
"It's the one thing that, at the end of the day, if everything else goes wrong we [need to] know," he said.
"Every year, [the weather forecast] says this could be the worst [bushfire season] ever; and every year, we just prepare the same way."
The practical exercise, which depicts a "last resort" survival method for firefighters if they become stranded, is one of three parks are putting them up to this week.
Seasonal enrollments, full-time rangers and office staff among others are being shown the ropes of the military-inspired Mercedes G-Wagons - a fourth vehicle is joining the ACT's fleet this season - and learning how to prevent the spread of invasive weeds and pests with a weed wash trailer.
The training's theory element focuses on "fighting fire with fire", or dry firefighting techniques, as parks expects water to be scarce this season. It also looks at ecological values, identifying sites of cultural significance, and women's issues; such as mentoring and support programs, and the recent inclusion of portable toilets at fire sites, where possible.
Nick Dutton, 19, said the training improved his confidence and skills heading into the season.
Like other first-time seasonal firefighters, he also undertook five weeks of initial training.
"I'm loving it so far - especially practicing stuff like burnover drills, which just need to feel natural," he said.
"You can't be like, 'Oh wait, what do I do?', because you don't have time."
The ACT Parks and Conservation Service's bushfire season training concludes on Thursday. The service employs about 220 people, with most having to do fire training in case their division faces one.
