Merced firefighters to train during controlled wildland burn

Merced firefighters will be conducting a controlled wildland firefighting training exercise beginning Friday morning.

The burn will begin around 9 a.m. and continue until about 3 p.m. in the area of Childs Avenue and Canal Street, firefighters said.

“Because of the drought, every effort will be used to minimize the use of water … ,” firefighters said in a news release. “The public will see numerous fire apparatus in this area as well as a columns and drifting smoke during parts of this exercise.”

Smoke produced from the burns is expected to move in a southeast direction, officials said.

“These burns allow firefighters to practice necessary skills and to reduce available fuels in preparation for the upcoming wildland firefighting season,” firefighters said in a news release. “Control burns allow firefighters to practice progressive hose lays, construct fire line by utilizing hand tools, and to use fire in a controlled fashion to help limit the spread of fire.”

This story was originally published May 28, 2015 at 1:09 PM with the headline "Merced firefighters to train during controlled wildland burn."