Multi-Agency Wildfire Training

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San Diego, California

Firefighters and law enforcement officers from agencies throughout San Diego County recently gathered at the Viejas Indian Reservation for a four-day wildland firefighting training exercise.  Members of Cal Fire San Diego, the United States Forest Service, the San Diego Sheriff's Department, San Diego Police Department, Viejas Fire Department and several other area fire departments trained on how they would execute a joint response in the event of a wildfire. 

Viejas Fire Chief Dan Butz explains, "Today, I think there is in the neighborhood of 50 fire engines participating, 50 overhead and those are the people who are managing the function making sure that everything is out there.  We have 2 helicopters and 2 water tenders, so this is no different than if we were actually to have a fire out here today."

The San Diego Sheriff's Department and San Diego Police Department performed water drops as if there was a real fire, and firefighters on the ground built mock fire lines and performed hose drills.   As crews worked nearby, Captain Nick Schuler of Cal Fire San Diego explained, "What they're doing is they're essentially laying what's called a wet line.  That wet line is extinguishing the perimeter of the fire, and with that both hose lays are actually going to wrap around and tie in together, simulating that they tied in the fire."

To hose the perimeter, each firefighter is required to wear a pack and 300' of hose, which weighs about 50 pounds.  In many cases they must hike uphill in rocky terrain. Captain Schuler says that on a real wildfire firefighters may be hiking the lines for between 8 and 10 hours and in some cases up to 24 hours.  He says that because of this, physical fitness and safety are of high importance.

Hand tool line construction is another important component of wildland firefighting, and this year it was a new addition to the training in this annual event.  Trainers highlighted the hidden dangers that come with this, including rattle snakes, bee's nests, poison oak, hazardous trees, and heat exhaustion.

According to Battalion Chief Jeff Robinson of the US Forest Service, this training is an excellent refresher course for wildland firefighters, many of which have not fought a wildfire since the fall.  Robinson says the four day session reconditions them to working in the heat with their specialized gear.  Of the multi-agency training he says, "It's the largest training program that I've seen anywhere, and it helps us out in the end when we do come together on an incident."

Join FDNNTV.com's Deanne Goodman in the coming weeks as she highlights the San Diego Sheriff's Department and San Diego Police Department's role as aerial firefighters during a wildfire.



Author:Deanne Goodman - FDNNTV.com