Live Fire Training Burn at Shadow Cliffs June 10-12

Contacts:
Matt Thau, Battalion Chief
Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department
(925) 918-3563 (Media Inquiries Only/Not for Public Release) 
[email protected]

Dave Mason, Public Information Supervisor
East Bay Regional Park District
(510) 409-7509
[email protected]

The Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department (LPFD) in collaboration with the East Bay Regional Park District Fire Department (EBRPD) announced today that live fire training burns will take place June 10-11 and, if needed, June 12, at Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area in Pleasanton.

Participants will include fire agencies throughout Alameda County, including personnel from the LPFD, EBRPD, CAL FIRE, Hayward Fire, Oakland Fire, Berkeley Fire, and Alameda County Fire.

Live fire training provides invaluable opportunities for agencies to work together, coordinating resources and expanding knowledge for safer and more effective fire suppression operations. The training will cover fire behavior, fighting fire with fire, holding operations, and mobile attack.

This fire training will burn approximately 25 acres of grassland in the western area of the East Bay Regional Park District’s Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area. Shadow Cliffs will remain open to the public with trail closures possible to ensure public safety. Ignition is scheduled to occur between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. each day and smoke may be visible in the Tri-Valley area.

Fire is a natural phenomenon in California and has many ecological benefits. The scheduled training will support EBRPD programs for vegetation management, hazardous fuel load reduction, and wildlife habitat improvement by removing noxious weeds and accumulated fuels. These programs enhance the health of the park by promoting growth of native grass and flowers and reducing the severity of future wildfires.

Live burns produce significantly less smoke than wildfires and are planned in coordination with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District to minimize impacts on surrounding communities. Weather and air quality will be continually monitored to ensure favorable conditions for smoke dispersal throughout planned operations. If conditions are not conducive for safe burning operations or air quality, the training will be rescheduled.