Las Flores Ranch Fuel Reduction Burn Brings Regional Fire Agencies Together to Protect Inland Empire Communities More than 800 firefighters from 18 agencies across San Bernardino and Riverside counties came together over four days to complete a fuel reduction burn at Las Flores Ranch. The San Bernardino County Training Officers Association helped support the effort by recognizing the fuel reduction burn as an opportunity. Their involvement brought multiple agencies together in a setting where personnel could sharpen wildland firefighting skills, improve communication, and reinforce existing relationships before the next emergency. The project treated approximately 400 acres of hazardous vegetation within Las Flores Ranch. This work helps reduce wildfire risk to the community of Hesperia, the Mojave River watershed, and critical infrastructure including the California Aqueduct. The fuel reduction burn also provided an important opportunity for regional fire agencies to work side by side under realistic wildland fire conditions. Just as they would during a major incident, firefighters, aircraft, supervisors, and incident management team personnel coordinated across agency lines to safely complete the operation. Aircraft from CAL FIRE and San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department supported the operation, allowing ground crews and aviation resources to coordinate throughout the project. Personnel practiced initial attack operations, resource ordering, ground and air crew coordination and firefighter injury response procedures. XBO Incident Management Team (IMT) facilitated the drill throughout the week performing the functions of command, operations, planning, logistics and finance. An additional 70 fire personnel worked towards qualifications in a variety of command and general staff positions within the IMT structure. “Projects like this directly improve public safety,” said Anthony Rapoza, Incident Commander with XBO Incident Management Team. “They reduce hazardous fuel in a critical area while giving our regional fire agencies the opportunity to work together before lives, property, and infrastructure are threatened.” The project reflects the continued commitment of local, county, state, and regional fire service partners to wildfire preparedness, community protection, and coordinated emergency response. Residents are encouraged to maintain defensible space, harden homes against embers, and stay informed through their local fire agency and emergency notification systems. @CALFIREBDU @CALFIRERRU @SBCSDAviation @OntarioFireDept @cvifd @RialtoFireDept @RedlandsFD @coltonfiredept @LomalindaFire @CoronaFireDept @BarstowFire @RCFD_PIO