Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue will conduct additional training exercises June 24 through June 26, 2020 in and around Canyon Park in preparation for the upcoming wildland fire season, as well as the July Fourth holiday. Exercises will occur daily between 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue wants to ensure the community is aware of the upcoming training and asks residents and park visitors to be mindful of fire department apparatus, equipment, and preparations conducted by fire personnel. These training exercises take place in Costa Mesa and countywide to help prepare the firefighters for vegetation fires within and outside city limits. The training is an extension of the recent training exercises that occurred in Fairview Park which improves area knowledge and the tactics taken to combat wild fires.

“California is coming off one of the most catastrophic wildfire years in history and with the Fourth of July holiday upon us, this training is an imperative piece in our overall preparations.” Costa Mesa Fire Chief Dan Stefano said. “We will continue to be unwavering in our efforts to be proactive, engaged with community, and well-prepared for any emergency, which is a testament to all of our professional men and women who serve with passion, professionalism and pride 24/7/365!”

There will be approximately 12 fire personnel present for the training and two to three pieces of fire apparatus daily. Firefighters will train on a couple of trails in Canyon Park where there is dense vegetation and moderate terrain features. The training is conducted to promote safety, mitigation, terrain recognition, and area familiarization while focusing on the fundamentals of wildland firefighting. Moreover, the department is conducting the training with full awareness and sensitivity of all environmental impacts and ensures this training will exclude any live burn training modules. The training will also adhere to County and City requirements/recommendations in regards to COVID19 safety precautions. The training is facilitated with the assistance of the Costa Mesa Parks and Community Services Department.

For questions please contact Captain Joseph Noceti, Public Information Officer at (714) 754-5091.