VIDEO: As wildfire season approaches, Cal Fire and US Forest Service crews are taking to the skies over Tehama County for an annual training aimed at stopping fires before they grow.
The aerial firefighting training program is one of the only programs of its kind in California. The hands-on training is designed to put firefighters in real-world scenarios and build skills needed to fight fast-moving wildfires.
“Everything that they learn, which is controlling aircraft over a fire traffic area or over a wildfire incident, utilizing helicopters, tankers, and proper tactics to suppress the fire,” said Cal Fire Battalion Chief Justin Tashiro.
There are only two programs like it in the nation — one in Tehama County and the other in Arizona — and the training is drawing international attention. Participants have come from Germany and South Wales.
“They’re gonna take the knowledge that they learn and observe from here and take it back with their agency and help build their program,” Tashiro said.
One of the most intense parts of the training involves smokejumping — parachuting from a plane into rugged terrain to reach fires quickly.
“Primarily, we are used in the backcountry for small lightning fires, and the idea is to get there as fast as possible and put them out while they are still small,” said smokejumper Brian Good. Good said the adrenaline remains even with years of experience. “I think I might have 40 fire jumps, 45 fire jumps,” he said.
