Central Oregon Rappelers to conduct live fire training on Ochoco National Forest during ‘Mountain Week’

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Ochoco National Forest will host the Central Oregon Rappelers’ Mountain Week rookie training Monday, May 6^th and Wednesday, May 8^th.

Mountain Week is part of the Central Oregon Rappelers five-week rookie training course. If weather conditions permit, training will include live fire exercises. Ignitions are planned for 10 a.m. Monday and Wednesday. Training will take place on the Lookout Mountain Ranger District, 11 miles northeast of Prineville, near Green Mountain.

There are no road or trail closures anticipated and smoke impacts are expected to be minimal. Smoke may be visible from Prineville.

Participants will completely extinguish the fire before they leave for the evening. Firefighters will conduct patrols to monitor the burn area until they declare the burn out.

Chad Schmidt, Airbase Manager for Central Oregon Rappellers says, “Mountain Week allows rookie candidates to develop skills unique to an Aerial Delivered Firefighter. Rookie candidates will develop skills related to small team dynamics, operating in the fire environment with limited tools and logistical support, land navigation, teamwork, decisions under stress, and incident command.” This year’s training is combined with the Siskiyou Rappel Crew.

For more information on prescribed burning in Central Oregon, visit centraloregonfire.org/ and for information specific to the Ochoco National Forest visit www.fs.usda.gov/ochoco. Follow us on X/Twitter @CentralORFire. Text “COFIRE” to 888-777 to receive wildfire and prescribed fire text alerts.