Dependent on weather and fuels conditions, the Central Oregon Fire Management Service will host this year’s Central Oregon Wildfire School (C.O.W.S.), an interagency training event designed to strengthen wildfire response coordination across Central Oregon.
As part of the training, firefighters will respond to and learn proper suppression techniques on small live fire exercises on the Crooked River National Grassland May 16-17, within the Pace Unit 4. The total acreage for these live fire exercises will be approximately 15 to 20 acres. The unit is located approximately four miles southeast of Madras, in the vicinity of Buck Butte off Grizzly Road, east of Highway 26.
Smoke may be visible from Prineville, Madras, and along the Highway 26 corridor. Members of the public should expect an increased presence of firefighters, fire engines, and equipment in the area during and after the training period.
The Central Oregon Wildfire School is an immersive scenario-based training program that brings together firefighters from federal, state, local, and structural fire agencies to strengthen their ability to work together during wildfire incidents. Participants begin with classroom instruction focused on wildfire suppression tactics, communication, and incident coordination before applying those concepts during field-based exercises.
The live-fire training scenarios allow participants to practice skills such as incident size-up, fireline construction, hose deployment, resource coordination, and mop-up operations while operating within a simulated wildfire response environment. These exercises help firefighters develop the leadership, communication, and decision-making skills needed during initial wildfire response and suppression of wildfires.
The Central Oregon Wildfire School was developed to foster strong working relationships between cooperating agencies that respond to wildfire across the region. Training together before fire season strengthens coordination and helps ensure firefighters can respond quickly and effectively when wildfire occurs.
Agencies involved in the planning and delivery of the training include Crescent Rural Protection Fire District, La Pine Fire District, Sunriver Fire Department, Bend Fire & Rescue, Redmond Fire & Rescue, Crook River Ranch Fire & Rescue, Cloverdale Fire District, Sisters/Camp Sherman Fire District, Black Butte Ranch Fire Department, Alfalfa Fire & Rescue, Crook County Fire & Rescue, Jefferson County Fire and EMS, Warm Springs Fire & Safety, Lake Chinook Fire & Rescue, and Oregon State Fire Marshals.
About the Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology– and rooted in communities–the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.
