Wildfire season is quickly approaching, and Southern Arizona fire departments spent the day brushing up on their skills.
Firefighters from several local agencies, including the Northwest Fire District, Casa Grande Fire Department, Golder Ranch Fire District, and Oracle Fire Department, were out in Oracle Saturday for their annual training, which covered everything from driving safety to land navigation to radio communications.
The drill is hosted by the U.S. Forest Service, Arizona State Forestry Division. The drills are designed to provide wildland firefighters an opportunity to review critical safety standards and recertify in techniques commonly used during state and national deployments.
But organizers say the most important lesson was on how to deploy a fire shelter, which keeps the super-heated air out of firefighters’ area so they have air to breathe. It’s the last-case scenario for firefighters who get struck in a wildfire.
“We like to get in it as fast as we can. You throw your burnable stuff away from you, you usually take your water in with you, a radio if you have it, and if you are in a group you want to stay tightly together so you can communicate with each other,” said Aaron Means of the Santa Catalina Ranger District.
From Tucson News Now: https://www.tucsonnewsnow.com/story/28580536/firefighter-prepare-for-wildfire-season