Get ready for some action in the Capitol State Forest this week, as the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) gears up to battle imaginary blazes. Starting on Wednesday, March 27, the DNR will be flexing its firefighting muscles from 1 to 5 p.m. during mock fire exercises intended to whip both air and ground crews into shape for the upcoming wildfire season. A second drill will follow on April 17, same time, same place, with backup dates set for March 28 and April 18 if Mother Nature decides to throw a wrench in the plans.
According to DNR's announcement, crews will set up shop above the C-Line near the Greenline Trail – and if you want to check out the action, you better respect the road guards at the C-7300 junction. By throwing colored smoke around from non-flammable containers, the firefighters will create a variety of smoky scenarios, from wispy plumes to a light smoke haze, so don't be alarmed if it looks like the woods have caught fire – it's all part of the show.
This isn't just fun and games with smoke bombs, though. The DNR's Wildland Fire Management Division aviation team is hosting the event to give their helicopter and airplane crews a real workout, honing skills that'll be crucial when the real wildfires hit. They'll have four choppers dropping water and a Kodiak 100 airplane ready to soar, training their eyes in the sky to work in lockstep with the boots on the ground.
As the DNR puts it, this exercise isn't just a dry run; it's an essential tune-up for the teams. "Hosted by the aviation team within DNR’s Wildland Fire Management Division, this training will enhance air crews’ ability to fight wildland fire more effectively and safely in aerial firefighting activities," the agency detailed.
