Local county firefighters are constantly training to keep their skills sharp. Managing editor Tami Roleff tells us how…
During the month of February, Yucca Valley firefighters responded to only four fires. In order to keep their skills sharp, County Fire Captain Steve Lasiter says they have to practice and train for different conditions.
Last week, county firefighters practiced using fire hoses for defensive and offensive fire-fighting techniques in a dirt field behind the Monterrey Business Center in Yucca Valley. “Today we came out to do our heavy attack, multi-company drill.” That’s fire-fighter-speak for fighting a large fire with fire fighters from different fire stations. In offensive fire-fighting, fire fighters advance the stream of water from the hose into the fire to try and put it out before it causes extensive damage to the structure. Defensive fighting means the structure is a total loss from the fire and firefighters use the stream of water to prevent the fire from spreading to other structures nearby. Lasiter said it was a morning to test their skills. “Pull hose and flow some water and see where our skills lie.”
