Crime & Safety
Firefighters to Conduct Live Fire Training in Moorpark
The training is tentatively scheduled for July 9, 10, 12, 13, 16, 17, 19, 20 and 24, from 9:30 a.m. to about 2 p.m.
The Ventura County Fire Department will be conducting live-fire training exercises in Moorpark starting today and continuing intermittently until Tuesday, July 24.
An area of brush in Happy Camp Canyon adjacent to Rustic Canyons Golf Course will be burned under controlled conditions to allow firefighters to train under realistic conditions.
“This kind of training is invaluable for firefighters,” said Ventura County Battalion Chief Chad Cook. “Our firefighters train almost constantly, but a drill where they can learn about fire behavior and experience the heat and smoke conditions they will encounter during an actual emergency is a tremendous opportunity. An added benefit of this training is that it will remove potentially dangerous vegetation prior to peak fire season and act as a firebreak if a major wildfire occurs in the area later in the season.”
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The goal of the training is to have as many fire companies as possible go through the initial fire assessment process and then take initial firefighting actions on a wildfire in light to medium vegetation.
A total of nine days of training are scheduled and about one acre of brush will be burned each day. Firefighters will use the exercise to practice their wildland firefighting skills and instructors will use the live fire to teach firefighters how fire behaves under wildland conditions. This information is critical knowledge when attempting to stop the advance of a wildfire and the ability to recognize unusual fire behavior may save a firefighter’s life.
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“We know the smoke and noise may temporarily disturb some of the neighbors,” said Cook, “but we hope they understand that this type of training helps to save lives and property under emergency conditions. We hope they will consider any inconvenience to be an investment in their safety and the safety of their community.”
The training will begin each day at about 9:30 a.m. – weather permitting – and conclude by about 2 p.m. The training is tentatively scheduled for July 9, 10, 12, 13, 16, 17, 19, 20 and 24 to accommodate the firefighter’s shift schedules.