More than 200 firefighters from all over California, including those from Monterey County fire departments, will head to Fort Hunter Liggett next month for the 2008 Wildland Fire School hosted by the Monterey County Fire Training Officers Association.

The three-day live-fire training exercise will be held June 5-8, and will teach firefighters advanced techniques in wildland firefighter safety and suppression operations. The training exercise will be conducted similar to an actual wildland fire incident, and live fires will be set under controlled conditions.

A training and command staff of nearly 50 will provide instruction in a variety of techniques including firefighter safety and welfare, fire shelter deployment, use of hand tools, mobile fire attack, wildland hose lays, and fire command procedures.

With wildland fires already burning in California and other parts of the nation, firefighters can use the training to help sharpen their skills in fighting and suppressing wildland fires.

The local Fire Training Officers Association has been conducting the Wildland Fire School for more than 20 years.

The Monterey County Herald - Link