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The Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department is conducting live fire training burns this week at Sycamore Grove Park in Livermore.
Participants for the training burns, which are set for Monday through Thursday (June 5-8) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., will include personnel from Livermore-Pleasanton, CAL FIRE, Alameda County, East Bay Regional Park District and Camp Parks fire departments.
Approximately 50 acres of grassland is planned to be burned in the Upper Sycamore Grove Park, which will be closed for the week, according to LPFD. Lower Park will remain open throughout the week and smoke may be visible in the Livermore area.
Live burns are planned in coordination with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District to minimize smoke impact to the surrounding areas, according to LPFD. The weather and air quality will be frequently monitored to ensure favorable conditions for smoke dispersal throughout the planned operations. If conditions are not favorable for safe burning operations or air quality, the training will be postponed until conditions are adequate.
Live fire training provides valuable educational benefits and opportunities for agency collaboration, coordinating resources and expanding firefighter knowledge for safe and effective firefighting operations before wildfire season, LPFD officials said. These training collaborations cover topics such as fire behavior, firing operations, holding operations, and mobile fire attack.
Not only is the training beneficial for fire personnel, they have many ecological benefits for the environment. The LPFD works closely with the Livermore Area Recreation Park District to perform vegetation management at the Sycamore Grove Park.
The training helps support LARPD programs with vegetation management, hazardous fuel load reduction, and wildlife habitat improvement by burning away weeds and fuel buildup. It helps enhance the health of the park by promoting the growth of native vegetation and reducing the intensity of future wildfires, according to LPFD.
