Amador County – The Amador-El Dorado Unit of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection planned a two-day live fire training exercise this week, but the plans were foiled by a real fire in the Nevada-Yuba-Placer Cal Fire service area.

CDF Fire Prevention Specialist Teri Mizuhara said the Amador-El Dorado-Sacramento-Alpine Unit said that “due to a fire in (Nevada-Yuba-Placer), we are currently on hold for the Live Fire Training scheduled for (Tuesday).” She said “we have two strike teams of engines and additional overhead resources assigned.”

The “Krista Fire” is located at Smartsville Diggins on the north side of the Yuba river, north of Highway 20 at Siccard Flat. The Yuba County fire had more than 100 people fighting it, and it had burned 350 acres, and was 100 percent contained by 4:50 p.m. Monday.

Firefighters were to continue mopping up and putting out any hot spots. Yubanet.com reported on Sunday that a “firing operation occurred to secure additional areas around the perimeter and to burn out islands of unburned fuel inside the containment lines.”

The Amador County live exercises were planned for 9-11 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday at the Amador-Sacramento County line, on Chance VMP ranch, located on Highway 104 approximately 6.7 miles west of the CDF Academy, at 4501 Highway 104 in Ione.

Unit Chief Kelly Keenan said “now that we have our full complement of fire fighters hired, we will hold this live fire training as a part of our continued fire fighter training program.”

Keenan said the event “serves two purposes: It is an excellent training tool for all of our personnel and it also assists a local rancher in controlling star thistle and medusa head, two species of invasive weeds that have spread onto his rangeland.”

Mizuhara said late Monday that the Amador County live-fire exercises would scheduled for Thursday only.

Responders also worked locally on a wildfire Monday afternoon near 1450 Highway 49, the Turner Ranch, where the fire was seen to be along Bunker Hill Road, headed toward New Chicago Road, according to dispatch reports.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.