Twenty-five Yonkers firefighters are participating in an elite search-and-rescue training session to prepare for the worst.

"It's basically trying to get our guys up to speed with any kind of potential catastrophe in the city of Yonkers or within the state," says firefighter Dominick Fornabaio.

The two-week training is run by the New York State Fire Administrator.

Administrator James Cable says it takes them about 80 hours to teach the responders everything they need to know.

"The members of the Yonkers Fire Department have learned how to use the various cutting, breaching, and breaking tools...how to use shoring to stabilize a collapsed or compromised structure, and how to lift and move heavy objects," Cable says.

Mayor Mike Spano says the city looks at the training as an investment in their emergency response resources.

"We do have a lot of old structures; we're a city that was founded in 1640 something," Spano says.

While the scenarios can be extreme, Fire Commissioner William Fitzpatrick says the training is worth every minute.

"We need to be just as prepared to handle these situations, as any other situation," Fitzpatrick says.