Heavy Training For Fire Season

Angels Camp, CA  – Look for heavy fire equipment and plenty of activity west of Angels Camp.

As fire season approaches, the Cal Fire Academy has been working with the Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit (TCU) to train new heavy fire equipment operators. The hands-on training has been taking place along the east side of Fowler Peak Lookout and runs through June 26.

This year, CAL FIRE hired 30 new operators, statewide. TCU Chief Josh White says he is happy to be able to provide a practice location. He adds, “Being able to apply classroom instruction to ‘on location’ field exercises is an integral part of Cal Fire training.”

Cal Fire reports there will be daytime and nighttime operations, including fire line construction and post-fire rehabilitation. Completing the training will qualify the operators to respond to emergencies. Over the next three years, the new hires must compile 6,000 hours of training, on-the-job and in-classroom, as well as 40 hours of annual recertification training.

Just to be able to participate in this “on location” training, the new operators had to complete the 179 Hour Basic Fire Fighter training course, along with the five-week Fire Fighter Academy and six-week Company Officer Academy programs.