TEHACHAPI, CA - KernCounty firefighters are holding a fire drill Thursday, June 5, in Tehachapi for several Southern California fire departments. They include: KernCounty Fire Department, Orange County Fire Authority, Los Angeles City Fire Department, Los Angeles County Fire Department, Ventura County Sheriff, San Bernardino County Sheriff/Fire, and the U.S. Forest Service.
It starts at 2 p.m., when aircraft will begin arriving at TehachapiMunicipalAirport, the Drill Helibase. The airport's east ramp will be closed to other aircraft and access will be limited to drill participants, Fire Service observers, and support staff only.
Crews and equipment will be stationed at the burn site on Cummings Ranch and residents will probably notice several firefighting aircraft flying in the area. They’ll start a fire and begin suppression operations at 8:45 p.m. Helicopters will fly from the Helibase to the Tank-Fill site near Brite Lake, to the fire on Cummings Ranch, drop the water then return to the Helibase.
The drill is expected to be completed around 1 a.m. Friday, June 6.
Sean Collins with Kern County Fire says this is the first time live fire will be used in this type of drill.