Thursday, June 20, 2013

CALFIRE press release re: Live fire training burn

LIVE FIRE TRAINING BURN

SAN ANDREAS - The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) will be conducting live fire training.  This training is designed to instruct fireline supervisors from around the State in proper techniques to plan and conduct complex firing operations during wildland fire suppression operations.

Students will be taught how to apply fire to fight fire.  They will learn the proper techniques to ignite and control fire that is lit outside the perimeter of an approaching wildland fire.  This technique is utilized to starve the wildfire of available vegetation, thus aiding in suppression efforts. 


The training will occur at two sites Kistler Ranch west of Jamestown and Crook Ranch in Groveland. The Crook Ranch is located on a portion of the Rim Truck fuel break and the communities of Groveland, Big Oak Flat, and Pine Mountain Lake Subdivision will benefit from the training burn by the maintenance of the fuel break. The Kistler Ranch is located on the north side of Highway 108/120.  Smoke will be visible and we urge drivers to be mindful of the conditions.  Both areas were also chosen to be burned to treat Medaushead, a noxious weed identified by Tuolumne County Agriculture Department.

The three day training will commence at 1 PM, Tuesday, June 25th and will begin at 10 AM the following days. Training is anticipated to be completed by 5 PM on Thursday, June 28th.  Resources utilized to conduct the training will consist of five fire engines and two fire crews, and one bulldozer.   If conditions are conducive, approximately 100 acres of grass and oak understory will be burned.