OWENSBORO, Ky. — Some Owensboro firefighters are in Europe for important training. 

Fifteen western Kentucky firefighters landed Sept. 21 in the Czech Republic. It's a trip back home for one Daviess County fireman, who was born in a city just 15 minutes outside where they’ll be training. 

Pavel Zboril, a firefighter paramedic for the Daviess County Fire Department, plans on showing them the ropes so they can learn different techniques and more about European culture.

“Firefighting (has) been in my family for years," Zboril said. "I can take guys from here and show them my heritage.” 

It is their second trip to the Czech Republic this year. While there, the firefighters, who are stationed in Owensboro’s sister city, Olomouc, will be engaging in hands-on exercises.

“Like wildfire training and maybe some technical rescue training, trying to compare and contrast our way versus their way," said Colby Smith, firefighter paramedic for the Owensboro Fire Department. 

The trip will include on-duty experiences where the firefighters will respond to situations with the local fire department there so they can use the lessons they learned in real time.

“As firefighters, we’re constantly training on things to try and better serve our communities," said Will McCrady, Daviess County firefighter. "In this case, we’re just going halfway around the world to do it.”

The goal is to bring back those skills to the commonwealth.

“It’s giving us an open mind; it's giving us tools in our toolbox," Zboril said. 

The firefighters will also be practicing putting out fires in hallways, stairs and in rooms of houses. They will be returning from Europe later this week.