DNR, local fire departments hold mock wildfire in Augusta

by Dan Groeschel

For the first time in 21 years, a large-scale mock wildfire was held in the Eau Claire County area.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources partnered with 17 local fire departments and over 160 homeowners to hold the drill last Saturday.

“We’ve developed a partnership that’s invaluable,” Larry Whaley, the Augusta Mock Fire Incident Commander, said. Organizing the drill was a joint effort between the Wisconsin DNR, Eau Claire County Emergency Management and the Augusta-Bridge Creek Fire Department.

For the drill, the emergency responders simulated a “crown fire,” a fire that burns at the tree tops. The DNR informally called it the “Super Bowl of wild fires.” During the drill, the fire trucks involved avoided using their lights and sirens. The firefighters involved in the drill were also using a different radio frequency. According to the DNR, these measures are taken to avoid any false panic in the community.

“When we do simulations, we want to emphasize and practice safety for all,” Whaley said.

According to the Wisconsin DNR, there are approximately 4,000 wildfires in Wisconsin each year. Experts said a wildland fire requires different gear, equipment and strategy than a structural fire.

“We use our Incident Command Center daily but on a small scale,” Jack Running, Chief of the Township Fire Department, said.

In cooperation with the DNR, fire departments train each year on wildfire management.

“This drill allows us to put classroom education to use,” Running said.

The education experience gained from this simulation extended to the cooperating homeowners as well. As part of the drill, firefighters stopped at the houses that agreed to be a part of the simulation. The firefighters evaluated the houses for fire safety, looking at measures such as: easy to locate, easy to access, easy to protect and safe for firefighters.

“The homeowners were a huge help for training. We don’t take their cooperation lightly,” Whaley said.

“This simulation provided a rare opportunity for citizens to interact with emergency management in a non-emergency situation,” Tom Hurley, Emergency Management Director for Eau Claire County, said. The homeowners were also given the opportunity to have a wildland firefighter evaluate their home and provide specific tips on how to make their home even less of a fire risk.

The Department of Natural Resources said the simulation accomplished its major goals. According to the DNR, no injuries were reported duirng the exercise and it provided the different agencies hands-on training to handle a large-scale wildfire.

“Radio communication is always a challenge on a large incident,” Mike Hillstrom, Wisconsin DNR Public Informaton Officer, said. “Communicating across multiple agencies was a challenge during this exercise. This was a great opportunity to work through those issues and find a process that worked.”

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