Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue will conduct training exercises in and around Fairview Park June 9,10, and 11 in preparation for the upcoming wildland fire season. Exercises will occur between 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. near Canyon Drive and Pacific Avenue.

Costa Mesa Fire and Rescue wants to ensure that the community is aware of the upcoming training and asks residents/park visitors to be mindful of equipment and apparatus being utilized by fire personnel. These annual mandatory training exercises take place in Costa Mesa and countywide to help prepare the firefighters for vegetation fires within and outside of city limits.

Fire Chief Dan Stefano reminds residents of the dangers of wildfire season.

“While wildfires are a natural part of California’s landscape, the fire season in California and across the west is now year- round, which is why our firefighters must remain vigilant with wildland firefighting training,” Chief Stefano said.

There will be approximately 10 to 12 fire personnel present for the training and multiple pieces of fire department apparatus daily. Firefighters will train on a couple of trails in Fairview 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.

The department is conducting training with full awareness and sensitivity of all environmental impacts and ensures this training will exclude any live burn training modules. The training is facilitated with the assistance of the Costa Mesa Parks and Community Services Department and Fairview Park Administrator Cynthia D’Agosta. Moreover, the training will also adhere to County and City requirements and recommendations in regards to COVID19 safety precautions.

California experienced the deadliest and most destructive wildfires in its history in 2017 and 2018. Fueled by drought, an unprecedented buildup of dry vegetation and extreme winds, the size and intensity of these wildfires caused the loss of more than 100 lives, destroyed thousands of homes, and exposed millions of people to unhealthy air.

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