Local first responders have traveled thousands of miles to prepare for the possibility of a terrorist attack in Tucson.

Members of the Rural Metro Fire Department's Special Operations team were among the group that went all the way to Alabama, to the nation's premier training center for first responders.

Hazardous materials workers from Rural Metro brave real chemical weapons with only sealed suits to protect them.

"The big thing is the psychology behind it, for us to understand that our equipment is going to work for us and be able to deal with these types of situations," explained Rural Metro Lieutenant Mike Schwartz.

The Center for Domestic Preparedness in Anniston, Alabama, has hosted about 20 from Rural Metro. They join emergency medical technicians and police officers from around the nation in hands-on practice with lethal nerve agents.

"Unfortunately, many of the weapons of mass destruction, chlorine, nerve agents, things like that are also industrial chemicals -- so these responders may have those chemicals in their communities now," said Jan Glarum, an instructor at the Center.

The trainees receive one week of practice and safety training with poisonous fumes and elaborate gear, and a final test in a gas chamber.

"It's a huge step, not only is it physical, but it's also a big mental challenge for everyone," Schwartz added.

Now back in Tucson, the firefighters have worked the weapons of mass destruction training into their daily duties here.

Safety kits that cost roughly $1,000 each now sit in each engine, ready to be used by teams who have already dealt with the real thing.

"An actual WMD event, that's when we put these kits into place, we protect ourselves first, then we protect the public, because, if we can't protect ourselves, we go down, who's going to protect the public?" mused Rural Metro Fire Captain and Hazardous Materials Technician Brian Talley.

The federal government pays for the training, the trip to Alabama, everything, under Homeland Security grants for our first responders.