The Riverside County Training Officers Association (RCTOA) Wildland Drills will take place at Ingalls Event Center on May 8 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Do not be alarmed if you notice helicopter or public safety activity in the area, as it is part of the training.
Under the direction of the Riverside County Fire Chief Association (RCFCA), RCTOA is coordinating and implementing a fire department multi-agency wildland disaster drill focused on La Sierra / Norco Hills. The training area identified brings together three agencies, CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department, the City of Corona and the City of Riverside, along with mutual aid partners. The last major fire to burn through La Sierra / Norco Hills was in 2007, which threatened the City of Riverside, City of Norco, City of Corona and land in Riverside County.
This type of drill helps foster better communication and partnerships with neighboring agencies who share La Sierra / Norco Hills as a common geographical area. Different agencies gathered in the Hills will participate in a simulated exercise designed to address a dynamic wildland incident. The scope of the drill will help identify and enhance agency protocols, communication issues, mutual/automatic aid agreements, pre-attack plans and how to improve unified command. By providing a realistic venue for fire behavior education and tactical considerations on the fire ground, the goal is for any future incidents in La Sierra / Norco Hills to be managed in a seamless, efficient manner.
For more information, contact the Norco Fire Department at (951) 737-1479 or [email protected].
