Wildfire training drill scheduled Saturday

A number of state, federal and local fire agencies will participate in an interagency training exercise near Menan Saturday.

It will focus on training firefighters on how to function in an interagency wildfire incident. Exercises will include mock wildfire scenarios designed to test leadership and communication skills as well as firefighting tactics.

The exercise will take place about 2 miles west of the Unified Sportsmen’s Club shooting range on two-track roads south of Highway 33 and west of Twin Butte Road.

Firefighters are asking anyone recreating or target shooting in the area to be wary of firefighter training activity and each other.

The exercises are set to begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Central Fire District Station in Menan. An incident command center will be established there. Trucks and other equipment from other fire agencies will begin there, then move out to various training scenarios.

There will be increased traffic in the Menan Butte area during the exercise, which is expected to end around 4:30 p.m.