Reporter for The Canyon Weekly
The Lyons Rural Fire District is hosting a wildfire training exercise this Saturday, June 10, and fire officials caution that residents in the Lyons and Mill City areas might see smoke and activities that are part of the exercise.
The wildland training day of the Santiam Firefighter Academy aims to teach firefighter students to learn in a realistic atmosphere. The exercise runs from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will feature chainsaw operations, fire deployments, a controlled live fire and helicopter operations.
The choppers will be active from noon to 4 p.m., fire officials said. There are no safe viewing locations to observe the exercise, officials said.
The exercise is subject to cancellation because of weather issues.
Agencies scheduled for the exercise include Lyons Fire, Stayton Fire, Sublimity Fire, Aumsville Fire, Gates Fire, Turner Fire, Jefferson Fire, Scio Fire, Idanha Detroit Fire, Woodburn Fire, Marion County Fire District #1, Adair Fire, Cornelius Fire, Tangent Fire, Dallas Fire, Clackamas Fire, Silverton Fire, Nestucca Fire and Breitenbush Fire.
The exercise is being supported by $10,000 in grants from the office of the Oregon State Fire Marshal and the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training.
