A Firefighter II Class currently running at the Northern Illinois Public Safety Training Academy (NIPSTA) was learning about automobile fires on Wednesday. They had half a dozen cars to destroy in the yard and they went about it in style. Always up for a fire … and with nothing genuine to attract a photographer in the area … Tim Olk and Larry Shapiro stopped by to take some photos.

NIPSTA firefighter training auto fires

Nothing like a well-involved automobile to produce big flames and thick black smoke. Larry Shapiro photo

NIPSTA firefighter training auto fires

Firefighters open a door of the burning car. Tim Olk photo

NIPSTA firefighter training auto fires

The firefighter encounters heavy smoke from the passenger compartment. Tim Olk photo

NIPSTA firefighter training auto fires

Given the go-ahead, firefighters advance on the fully involved car. Larry Shapiro photo

NIPSTA firefighter training auto fires

An instructor shows the firefighters where to insert the halogen to pry open the hood. Tim Olk photo

NIPSTA firefighter training auto fires

After the fire is knocked down, a firefighter advances to hit the remaining fire under the hood. Larry Shapiro photo

NIPSTA firefighter training auto fires

Under the watchful eye of an instructor, a firefighter uses a saw to cut into the trunk. Larry Shapiro photo

NIPSTA firefighter training auto fires

A firefighter works to open the hood to expose the engine compartment. Tim Olk photo

NIPSTA firefighter training auto fires

Enveloped by smoke, a handline is used to wet down the engine compartment. Larry Shapiro photo

NIPSTA firefighter training auto fires

Firefighters work to get the hood open. Tim Olk photo

Fire photographer Tim Olk

For those one or two in Illinois who have never met Tim Olk ... let me introduce you. Larry Shapiro photo

More images can be found HERE and HERE.