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Volume 172 • Issue 32 | $1.00
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Wednesday, March 22, 2023
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Trip to Green heads to the starting gate Mountain Democrat photo by Eric Jaramishian
A U.S. Forest Service firefighter trainee works to build a fire line during a hands-on training session March 16 near Diamond Springs.
Wildland experience Forest Service digs in on fire line training
Eric Jaramishian Staff writer
A
s winter comes to a close, the U.S. Forest Service is preparing for the next fire season, putting students looking to get permitted to fight on the fire line to the test.
More than 30 students could be seen last week on a parcel of land on Echo Lane near Diamond Springs wielding firefighting equipment, digging fire lines and hacking through vegetation in a mock-fire scenario. Trainees learned how to operate a fire engine, lay hoses, create dirt
Fired up
trenches and more during the required 40-hour training. After students complete the training, which is a mix of classroom and field lessons, they obtain the necessary certification to be able to apply for work with
Odin Rasco Staff writer Following a series of test runs in 2022 and plan presentations in January and February, Placerville’s Trip to Green project is shaping up in the form of gates and possible tolls. Trip to Green was taken on by the city of Placerville and the El Dorado County Department of Transportation to combat the surge in traffic on busy weekends exacerbated by the city’s three stoplights on Highway 50. The findings from the trial runs last year and public workshops were presented at the March 14 Placerville City Council meeting. The plan has been honed to its close-to-final shape, with public comment at workshops and survey responses
n See fire training, page A8
n See Trip to green, page A8
Placerville and El Dorado County residents learned about the latest in wildfire preparedness at the second annual Get Prepared for Wildfire Season event co-sponsored by Placerville Fire Safe Council and the city of Placerville. The event welcomed approximately 200 visitors with more than 30 participating agencies, private businesses, nonprofit organizations and elected officials. U.S. Forest Service mascot Smoky Bear and Cal Fire’s Captain Cal take a moment to get some refreshments from Placerville Rotary Club volunteers as they help the community “Get Prepared.”
District 4 State Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil presents Placerville Mayor Michael Saragosa, pictured above left holding proclamation, with a special recognition accompanied by local elected officials, fire district and municipal leaders and fire safe council members at the Placerville Fire Safe Council Get Prepared for Wildfire Season event March 18. Placerville Police Department Sgt. Chris Cory and El Dorado County Fire Protection District Division Chief Braden Stirling, above right, present on the topic of home hardening and the Code Red alert system.
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