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Story & photos by Josh Stotler
May 3, 2023 (San Diego) - As the State of California kicks off wildfire preparedness week, San Diego County firefighters are also gearing up for what is forecasted to be one of the worst fire seasons on record, a trend that fire authorities know all too well. The 2023 Multi-Agency Wildland Preparedness Exercise took place May 1st through 3rd. This extensive training event celebrated its 20th evolution this year and has provided thousands of firefighters and fire officers with crucial real-world training in wildland firefighting.
Hosted by The Barona Fire Department and sponsored by San Diego Gas & Electric, this annual drill is an important tool for San Diego County fire departments, Law Enforcement, Animal Services and utility companies to work together on a large-scale mock incident. Firefighters are dispatched to “real world” type incidents, quickly establish command and work quickly to ensure scene safety and the protection of lives and property.
Carefully planned to mimic a real wildland fire response, crews are dispatched to rugged, vegetation filled canyons, open overgrown fields and urban interface areas, where they coordinate an initial attack and radio for any other resources they require. As Sheriff’s deputies knock on doors and warn the residents of fast-moving fire, crews are stretching lines and putting water on the pre-marked “fire areas”. Although this is only a training, it has an immensely real feel. The attention to detail is fantastic and adds to the reality of this immersive training.
Combative residents, burned firefighters and unattended children and pets are just a few of the curve balls thrown at the crews through the three day training. Known by first responders as an Incident Within an Incident, (IWI) The command skills of the fire service leadership are put to the test. Maintaining fire suppression while also tending to a wounded firefighter can strain resources and it’s important to train these scenarios so quick, effective decision making is second nature.
There are many specialized resources available to crews battling wildland fires and there were no shortage of them over the course of this drill. Strike Teams, Air Support, Bulldozers, Medic Units and Law enforcement were just a hand full of the support that was just a radio call away. Firefighting helicopters from San Diego Sheriff’s, San Diego City Fire and SDG&E were on hand to make water drops when requested. Crews from over 20 fire departments located in San Diego County cut brush, stretched hose lines, protected structures and worked together as a unified firefighting force.
Building camaraderie and learning to work with departments who share neighboring districts is a big part of this drill. Meeting and working with crews you only see at a major incident is important and contacts and friendships that are made at this event are paramount to ensuring solid teamwork when the call comes in. Here in San Diego County, the question of when the next campaign fire will be isn’t “if”, but “when” and San Diego County residents can rest assured that the trained professionals who protect their lives and property in a wildfire stand capably at the ready.
Josh Stotler is a freelance photo journalist with over 20 years of fire service experience.
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