Fresno County firefighters prepare for upcoming fire season
FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – With summer and scorching heat just weeks away, Fresno County firefighters are preparing for what could be a very active wildfire season.
When preparing for wildfire season, firefighters are normally seen running hoses or digging fire lines, but at the training at Mid Valley Regional Training Center in Del Rey on Wednesday, the focus was on communication.
“Today is a simulation of really a CalFire readiness drill for wildfires…we have company officers and chief officers here today managing and running a wildland fire,” said CalFire Battalion Chief Seth Brown.
Firefighters responded in real time over the radio, as a simulated fire developed on computer screens.
Each firefighter in Wednesday’s training played a different role.
“We have people playing the role as responding aircraft that’s our air attack air tankers helicopters all the different types of resources,” said Brown.
The California Highway Patrol and the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office were also there. They work hand in hand with firefighters to evacuate people in the path of the flames.
“It’s really valuable for us all to be on the same page speaking these languages and understanding how CalFire is making their determination because this is their business and we need to follow their lead,“ said Tony Botti with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office.
This is just one of several multi-agency trainings CalFire will hold before summer begins.
Residents need to learn how to prepare their families in the case of a wildfire. To learn how to do so, click here.
