When bees attack Palm Beach County firefighters will be ready

SUBURBAN WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Firefighters in Palm Beach County are always training to make what they practice perfect when lives are at stake.

On Tuesday some firefighters were challenged not with the usual flames or evacuations in a training session, but with something no one usually wants to come near. The firefighters put themselves in a scenario surrounded by bees.

"People seem to know that the Africanized bees have gotten to our area and there's a common fear," said Ray Altman, a Boynton Beach firefighter and bee expert.

To help the first responders who will get the call if and when a bee attack happens, Altman brings bees and firefighters together. Altman said the hardest part is changing the firefighter's mentality that they must kill the bees when responding.

"Bees are an essential part of our environment. We need them to survive. They pollinate about a third of the crops to eat," said Altman.

Experts said if a person stumbles upon an aggressive hive, they should run about 300 yards from where they are standing.

"You aren't going to be able to stop an attack until you get away from the area," said Altman.

Firefighters also learned about how smoke disrupts bee communication and that the majority of bees in Florida are Africanized.  Firefighters said these are vital pieces of information that could make the difference between life and death the next time they get a bee attack call.