WORCESTER — Worcester firefighters, from left, John Elliott, Steve Shepard and Dave Cady do a Functional Fitness workout Wednesday afternoon in the parking lot behind the Franklin Street fire station.

Shepard is doing the tire flip while the others do a plank exercise.

A group of firefighters does this workout four times weekly, with each session lasting 45 minutes to an hour.

The program is led by peer trainers certified by the International Association of Fire Fighters.
Firefighter Nathan Schirner is the peer leader for this group.

The exercises in the fitness program, which is optional, are specifically designed to strengthen firefighters for duties such as pulling ceilings, swinging axes and pulling hose.

T&G Staff/BETTY JENEWIN