Collaboration between multiple agencies is not a common practice in Germany, but maybe soon?

PHOENIX — There are fire departments in almost every city on the planet, but agencies in the United States are the envy of many.

Eighteen students from the University of Applied Sciences in Kehl, Germany, are studying for careers in Public Management and came to Phoenix for a little advice.

"It's quite special that the fire department works so close with PD because we don't have that back home," says 20-year-old Madeleine Schneider.

The program is very important to Phoenix Firefighter Marc Austin, who spent part of his life overseas and speaks four different languages.

"We're very very innovative in terms of emergency management," Austin says. The University chose Phoenix Fire as their agency to learn from over departments in LA, New York, and Atlanta because of the department's worldwide reputation.