In preparation for wildfire season, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will be conducting two mock fire exercises in the Capitol State Forest starting on Wednesday, March 26 with a backup date of March 27, from 1 to 5 p.m. The second exercise will be April 16 with a backup date of April 17, from 1 to 5 p.m.

 

DNR firefighters will be using firefighting aircraft along with other firefighting equipment. Additionally, there will be DNR crews on the ground coordinating the exercise area.

 

Using smoke cloud devices, colored smoke will come from non-flammable containers in open areas without overhead vegetation. Depending on wind conditions, the public may witness visible smoke at times ranging from small smoke plumes to drift smoke and light smoke haze.

 

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. It’s an opportunity for the ground crews to simulate fire to train the air crews with required tasks.

 

Three helicopters will be on scene to drop water as needed for this exercise, along with a Kodiak 100 airplane.

 

 

Thomas Kyle-Milward

Wildfire Communications Manager

Cell: 360-529-7184