Preparing For Wildland Fires

Photo By Sgt. Desiree D King | Over 200 firefighters with the U.S. Forest Service, Orange County Fire Authority, Cal Fire, and local San Diego County agencies gathered on Camp Pendleton, Calif. to participate in wildfire firefighting methods training, June 5, 2017. This training is conducted to further enhance their abilities to effectively and efficiently combat wildfires. Significant wildland fires throughout San Diego County in October of 2007 lead officials to seek a partnership between military and civilian aviation and firefighting assets to better manage crisis aboard regional military installations and in the surrounding communities. Since then, Camp Pendleton security and safety agencies, and local departments have been working together to streamline response and integrated communication efforts to provide ready, trained and certified military and civilian resources to combat wildland fires in the region, culminating with a cooperative effort to extinguish wildland fires.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Michael LaFontaine)  

CAMP PENDLETON, CA, UNITED STATES

06.06.2017

Story by Lance Cpl. Dylan Chagnon 

Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Federal and local firefighting agencies came together for an annual Fire School aboard Camp Pendleton, June 5 to June 9, 2017.

The school gives firefighters the opportunity to work together and train using live fire in a controlled environment.

“This exercise provides the opportunity for them to practice their response methods in a safe manner and this installation gives us the real estate to do just that,” said John Crook, Deputy Chief of Training, Camp Pendleton Fire Department.

The US Forest Service, Camp Pendleton Fire Department, CAL FIRE, Orange County Fire Authority and numerous local San Diego County fire agencies participated.

The training sharpened their skills in radio communication, fire behavior and suppression methods and allowed them to learn to work together as one organization.

“It’s realistic; it’s what they’re going to see when they go out and fight fires in the summertime,” said Crook. “It allows the agencies to learn who each other are so when it comes time for real firefighting to take place, we are all aware of what we are able to do together.”

This year’s fire school was hosted earlier than prior years due to the heavy winter rain causing an excess in the vegetation throughout the region. The Fire School is just one part in the training that takes place throughout the year in preparing local fire agencies for the summer fire season.

• Date Taken: 06.06.2017
• Date Posted: 06.07.2017 18:42
• Story ID: 236770
• Location: CAMP PENDLETON, CA, US