For the second weekend in a row, the Wood River Valley will witness a flurry of activity from all the area's fire departments. This time, however, there won't be any flames to extinguish, and the firefighters can get practice without actually putting themselves in harm's way.
On Saturday, June 30, the Bellevue Fire Department will host this year's urban interface drill, an approximately four-hour dress rehearsal giving valley fire crews the opportunity to work on, well, working together.
Bellevue Fire Chief Greg Beaver said no fires will be lit, nor will any water be pumped due to the ongoing drought.
Starting at 8 a.m., a dispatch will go out to the Bellevue, Hailey, Ketchum, Wood River Fire & Rescue, and Sun Valley fire departments, as well as to Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service crews, summoning them to a "fire" on Cow Catcher Ridge, located to the northeast of downtown Bellevue. Sawtooth Helitack may also participate, if available.
While the numerous engines heading south will refrain from sounding their sirens, Beaver said they will put up signs to ensure that residents know it is merely a drill taking place, not an emergency. In addition, Beaver said homeowners around Seventh Street, where the crews will practice structure protection, have already been informed and have given their consent. The staging area will be on an empty lot between Ash and Spruce streets alongside state Highway 75.
Beaver said the scenario, in which a lightning strike has started a wildfire that is moving toward houses in Bellevue and Slaughterhouse Canyon, will allow the different departments to work on interaction using the National Incident Management System. This system gives all emergency services the same codes for clarity in communication.
Beaver said the training exercise will last until around noon, but could end earlier in the event of an actual emergency somewhere else in the valley.
