Ben Hillyer / The Natchez Democrat — It didn’t take long for Adams County volunteer firefighters James Young and Maryanne Ray to find out how long it could take to follow a fire hose back to safety in a structure fire filled with heat and smoke. The two only had 60 seconds, but took longer than that on their first try during a firefighter self-rescue class exercise at the Kingston Volunteer Fire Station Monday night. With her face covered and her gear on, Ray used only her hands to follow the hose during the exercise given by Mississippi Fire Academy adjunct instructor Darryl Smith, above left.

Ben Hillyer / The Natchez Democrat — Young tries to get out of a simulated tangle that the instructor used during the exercise.

Ben Hillyer / The Natchez Democrat — Smith shows firefighters how to tell which direction they are going when following a hose by feeling the hose connections.