Interagency Wildfire Training

Date:     May 6, 2015
Subject: Interagency wildland fire training

With the dry conditions and potential for a long fire season this year, local, state and federal fire agencies, along with other local first responder agencies are in full preparation mode. On Saturday, May 9th, 2015, residents and visitors to the Eastern Sierra, and specifically the Mammoth Lakes area, will notice quite a bit of fire equipment in the area as our local agencies train together in preparation for this fire season.

What:   An interagency wildfire training exercise focusing on combined engine company operations in the wildland urban interface. (This is training and not a real fire event)

When:  Saturday, May 9th, 2015 from 9:00am to 4:00pm

Where:  Mammoth Creek Road near the helipad, with initial staging at the employee parking lot of the US Forest Service Visitor Center in Mammoth Lakes. 

The public can expect to see numerous engines coming into the Town of Mammoth Lakes on Hwy 203 between 9:00am – 9:45am; and from the US Forest Service Visitor Center toward Mammoth Creek Road between 10:00am - 10:15am.  Engines will be released and returning on Hwy 203 around 4:00pm. 

The public is discouraged from attending/observing the training as there will be heavy traffic activity with fire engines in the area, including the routes into and out of the training area.

Why:  To improve local, state, and federal coordination in fire resource requests, deployment, and combined operations in and around Mono County wildland urban interface areas.

Who:  Mono County Protection Districts; CalFire; US Forest Service, Inyo National Forest; Mono County Emergency Management; Town of Mammoth Lakes.

Interagency training and preparation is invaluable for when the true call comes out. We appreciate the public’s awareness and support of our training efforts. - Jennifer M. Hansen, Public Information Officer