Multiple California Fire Departments Conduct Extensive Wildland Fire Training Burns

Multiple fire departments across California and Colorado are conducting controlled burns and live fire training exercises to prepare for wildfire season and improve firefighter readiness. The Manitou Springs Fire Department in Colorado will hold wildland training in Deer Valley Park, while Cal Fire plans a one-acre prescribed burn in Soquel Demonstration State Forest to reintroduce fire into the ecosystem. Vacaville Fire Department recently completed its fourth and final training operation focusing on mobile attack tactics, providing recruits hands-on wildfire experience. In Pleasanton, the Livermore Pleasanton and East Bay Regional Park District Fire Departments will conduct live burns over 25 acres at Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area, involving multiple agencies to practice fire behavior and tactical operations. Additionally, CAL FIRE’s Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit will execute a 200-acre fuel reduction burn and live fire training near Rancho Calaveras, with personnel monitoring conditions closely. These efforts emphasize the importance of controlled fire use both as a training tool and a means to reduce fuel loads and mitigate wildfire risks.