Firefighters deal with heat during training in Saratoga

SARATOGA, Calif. (KGO) -- Temperatures reached 98 degrees Wednesday in Saratoga. That sort of heat is uncomfortable for anyone, but imagine suffering through it while wearing bulky protective clothing and carrying heavy firefighting gear. That's what firefighters dealt with while training at Sanborn County Park.

Mix this hot and dry weather with the potential of fires related to illegal fireworks this 4th of July weekend, and that's why firefighters were out there training in oppressive heat. They say this area, where the 1985 Lexington Fire started, is ripe to burn again.

It was 98 degrees but this is what firefighters do. Refreshing their skills and learning new ones to stop wildland fires from spreading. They have to be prepared.

"Everyone was sweating pretty good," said Cal Fire Captain Sean Ketchum. "So it's a good test in getting acclimated to the weather. It's good in this controlled environment."

The training is realistic, so that means wearing heavy weight turnout gear and protective masks. They can easily get overheated and dehydrated.

Medical volunteers enforce breaks to make them drink water and to sit in front of fans that mist them.

Fire hoses had to be laid.

Lines had to be cut to create fire breaks.

Only one compromise was made.

Incident commanders couldn't set any fires because of weather conditions. So they did a simulated wildland fire using a sandbox.

There's concern conditions are ripe for a major fire in the Santa Cruz Mountains, similar to the Lexington Fire from 30 years ago this month. In that blaze, 14,000 acres burned and 42 buildings were destroyed. Joe Parker was on the fire lines in 1985. On Wednesday, he ran the training exercise.

"In that area that burned 30 years ago hasn't really significantly burned since then, so it's ready once again," he said. "The fuels are in worse shape now than they were back then."

Parker, now Santa Clara County fire deputy chief, notes they've developed better strategies since then, mobilizing more resources sooner than later.

"These fuels are ready to go," he said. "All it takes is the right conditions. If we get weather that's not in our favor and possibly some bad behavior on the human part, it'll be a big deal."

The city of Fairfield has decided the fire threat is so bad, it just closed three parks for the entire holiday weekend. Officials say Rockville Hills Regional Park, Spyglass Open Space, and the Serpas Ranch/Rolling Hills Open Space will be closed from Friday at 8 p.m. until Monday, or until weather conditions subside.

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