The Monterey County Regional Fire District has completed a fire training and wildland fuel mitigation exercise at the Laguna Seca Rifle & Pistol Range. The training event was originally scheduled to be conducted over two days. Since the training goals have been met on the first day, the second day is cancelled. As of the writing of this news release late Wednesday afternoon, fire crews were completing the last section of the fire area.
The 53-acre area at the Rifle & Pistol Range was the setting for the training event, and was made available by the Monterey County Parks Department. The Laguna Seca Recreation Area is located at 1025 Monterey-Salinas Highway, off Highway 68 near Laureles Grade Road.
A total of 60 fire personnel participated from 7 different fire and educational agencies. Wildland firefighting skills were practiced by the fire personnel from agencies surrounding the Monterey County Regional Fire District, including Salinas (City), North County, Seaside, Monterey, Marina and CAL FIRE. Activities that took place included fire behavior observation, backfiring operations, and mobile fire suppression along the grass-covered slopes.
In addition, basic wildland firefighting skills were refined by 12 students from the Rancho Cielo Wildland Fuels Crew, who participate in the Rancho Cielo Wildfire Suppression Program. The students, ages 18 to 24, are obtaining wildland firefighting skills under the supervision of the North Monterey County Fire District.
This training event was particularly valuable this year due to the cancellation of the 2010 Wildland Fire School conducted by the Monterey County Fire Training Officers Association at Fort Hunter-Liggett. The Wildland Fire School traditionally takes place the first week of June, but was cancelled due to the late rain season, which kept the burn area too “green” to burn.
If you have questions regarding this important training event, you may contact either Dorothy Priolo, Public Information Officer/Deputy Fire Marshal, or David Sargenti, Division Chief/Safety & Training, at (831) 455-1828.
