Simulation prepares firefighters for dry season

With the first red flag fire warning issued on Tuesday, Sierra Front firefighters are practicing their craft for fire season.

East Fork Fire & Paramedic Districts, Carson City Fire Department, the U.S. Forest Service and Nevada Division of Forestry joined forces last week in Indian Hills for a fire training to help the agencies work together better in the case of a real emergency.

The agencies met at Station 12 in Sunridge for a weather and safety briefing and information on the simulation which was set up at James Lee Park.

East Fork Fire Capt. Larry Goss said the objective of the wildland fire training is to improve interagency operations and communication.

"It's important so we are all on the same page and working together and communicating effectively," he said.

Through the training, agencies were able to work in new roles at the fire simulation where they practiced a mobile attack, laying hose, protecting structures and working with the water truck.

The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for 12 hours on Tuesday, and a fire weather watch today.

Decreased humidity in vegetation could increase the chance it will catch fire.

So far, there has only been one serious wildfire in the East Fork Fire District this year.

Lightning is believed to have started the Spring Valley fire on May 23.

East Fork Fire Chief Tod Carlini said when the wind catches an ember from a lightning strike or other source of ignition it can spread quickly.

For those days when there's a good chance of lightning the East Fork Fire & Paramedic Districts has a plan.

"We're trying to orchestrate our response under those specific conditions," he said. "When we would have a storm we used to start in south county and chase it all the way through. Now we're investigating these things rather than sending the world, so we reduce some of the liability of having fire trucks run all over the Valley."

Carlini said the lightning plan allows the district to do more with its firefighting resources.

"The plan is intended to not overcommit resources on a lightning strike, so we stop chasing them," he said.

But lightning isn't the only source for wildfire, and it is difficult to plan for instances where people might be the source of ignition.

Carlini said that no matter the cause of the fire, firefighters will act quickly to extinguish it.

He said putting seasonal firefighters at bases around the districts is one way of making sure there are more personnel available in case of fire.

"That way we can better respond where we might need to go with resources," he said. "We are truly out the door on request."