Tempe Fire Medical Rescue officials are training to be better prepared and more equipped for active shooter responses.
The new approach gives firefighters a more "active" role when responding to crime scenes. Firefighters will wear protective gear while entering crime scenes to help victims.
Normally, firefighters would stage at a safe distance until police responders gave the OK.
According to Tempe Fire Medical Rescue, the new approach gives officers more control over the active situation.
"Our brave men and women are in the business of saving lives and we want to be able to do that in any and all necessary situations," Tempe Fire Medical Rescue Chief Greg Ruiz said in a media release.
"This special training and equipment makes it possible for our professionals to more safely put themselves in the middle of the worst possible scenes, increasing the chances that we will be able to rescue innocent victims."
Training has been in place throughout 2015 and is based on best practices from national associations and SWAT-related training.
