San Bernardino County firefighters sharpen skills with controlled burn, training exercise

HESPERIA, Calif. () — Smoke seen rising south of Hesperia on Wednesday came from a controlled burn by firefighters as part of a fuel reduction and training effort, officials said.

Fire crews were targeting an area covering about 400 acres of dry brush in an effort to reduce wildfire risk in an area with a history of fires.

“We do have a fire history here, which is why we do choose to manage and reduce the fuels, to reduce the chance of getting those large fires,” said Eric Sherwin, a public information officer with the San Bernardino County Fire Department.

The week-long project also doubled as a large-scale training exercise. Seventeen fire departments from across the region participated, using the controlled burn to practice fire-suppression techniques.

Firefighters trained in multiple roles, including hose operations, hand crew tactics and aerial support. A helicopter was also used on scene to practice making water drops.

“When the (San Bernardino County Training Officers Association) heard this fuel reduction project was going to take place, they saw it as a prime opportunity to create a training environment for firefighters throughout the county,” said Sherwin.

Nearly 130 firefighters from across San Bernardino County took part in the exercise, including both new recruits and seasoned personnel.

Mistakes made by firefighters were not looked at as errors but used as teachable moments.

“Guys will tend to try to chase the fire before getting a secure anchor point, or ensuring that all the fire behind him is out because they want to get the forward rate spread stopped quickly, so those are some of the things we learn – is to effectively grab the edge of the fire and start extinguishing it,” said Justin Correll of the Colton Fire Department.

Officials said the training helps reinforce critical strategies while giving crews hands-on experience in a controlled setting.

Weather permitting, firefighters are expected to return to the site to continue training on Thursday. The project is one of the last fuel-reduction efforts of the season.