Local officials prepare for the wildfire season

NEWS RELEASE
COLORADO DIVISION OF FIRE PREVENTION AND CONTROL
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The Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) will conduct helicopter-based fire suppression and classroom training with the Colorado Army National Guard throughout the month of April.

This annual interagency wildland fire training exercise is conducted along with Boulder Fire-Rescue, the City of Longmont, the USDA Forest Service (USFS), and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

The training exercises include targeted aerial water delivery practice at:

• Chatfield State Park in Littleton
• Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge in Commerce City
• Ralph Price Reservoir at Button Rock Preserve in Longmont

Aircraft will take off from Vance Brand Municipal Airport in Longmont and Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora. The training aims to improve coordinated response and airspace deconfliction for air- and ground-based response elements during emergencies between federal, state and local agencies. The majority of aircraft will be flying April 11 to 14, 18 to 20, and April 28 to May 1.

"The importance of this type of training in wildland fire cannot be overstated," said DFPC director Mike Morgan. "The wildland fire environment we face today and what we will face in the future, necessitates that we continue to pursue learning and growth in lock-step with our partners."

In addition to aerial operations, the conference will include academic training at the Army Aviation Support Facility, Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora. Months of planning have included coordination with local authorities for site locations, movement of equipment, and environmental considerations.

"This training is an integral part of our overall domestic response training," said Colorado Army National Guard director of aviation and safety, Colonel Will Gentle. "We will use this exercise to qualify and validate our aircrews to ensure they are ready to respond to wildland fires. Integrating aircrews with ground personnel adds a dynamic and complex layer of realism."

The goal is to provide a safe and realistic training environment for comprehensive training, practice and development of skills for all agencies involved. Temporary public safety closures will be in effect at Button Rock Preserve while aircraft are operating in the area; please refer to the attached closure notice and map for more detailed information.

For more information, click here. 

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