Now that the winds have died down, Los Angeles County firefighters will resume live fire training in preparation for this year’s fire season.
The 2010 Wildland Spring Drills will be held at the Pitchess Detention Facility in Castaic, providing opportunities for firefighters to practice wildland firefighting skills, structure protection, fire awareness, and coordinated attack.
The drills began Monday and will continue through June 30. Numerous firefighters and engine companies throughout the County will be participating in the exercise and will be on hand to monitor fire activity. Training for new crew supervisors began Monday, April 19, and will involve limited live and simulated fire training.
Smoke may be visible to residents living in Castaic, Val Verde and portions of Valencia. While the impact of smoke is expected to be minimal, fire department officials will be closely monitoring the effect of smoke to the surrounding communities.
The training fires will involve the burning of low intensity brush and grass and will benefit the community and the detention center by reducing the fuels adjacent to the structures near the Castaic facility, enhancing safety in the event of a wind-driven fire.
Weather conditions will be closely monitored and training may be cancelled should the forecast change or other conditions become unfavorable. Residents are encouraged to prepare themselves, their families and their homes from the threat of fire by visiting:
http://fire.lacounty.gov/SafetyPreparedness/ReadySetGo/home.asp