Boulder residents may notice increased activity from the city's fire crews, but there's no cause for alarm. Boulder Fire-Rescue is running a series of wildland fire trainings this week, according to a recent announcement. The exercises, scheduled for Monday through Wednesday, are part of an ongoing effort to sharpen the department's response to potential wildfires, a threat that looms large in the arid Colorado landscape.
While these drills won't involve any live flames, locals can expect to see teams practicing with a "mock" fire and establishing incident commands at select locations. The training is designed to better and rapidly prepare the firefighters for the terrene challenges they may face while safeguarding the community. According to City of Boulder Fire-Rescue, Wildland Division Chief Brian Oliver emphasized, "Trainings for all types of incidents in various terrains really help to provide our crews with working knowledge and experience of the area." He further adds, "When our crews have repeated a skill and are comfortable with it, our efficiency and service delivery is better for our community."
The practice sessions are set for spots including Hollyberry and Deer Valley near the Skunk Creek Trailhead, 17th and King by the 4 Pines Trailhead, and 428 Utica. These locations were specifically chosen to simulate the diverse environments firefighters might encounter during a real wildfire incident.
