Controlled burn in Southeast Salem Saturday for firefighter training

On Saturday, multiple fire departments in the area will send crews to practice wildland firefighting on a plot of land in Southeast Salem. 

The controlled burn will be on 26 acres the city is using for a wetland construction project between Mill Creek Drive SE, Turner Road SE, and Kuebler Boulevard SE. When finished, there will be a 100-acre wetland mitigation area with walking paths. 

The project will cost about $2.4 million and will continue through summer 2020. 

But prior to excavation, area fire departments will burn grass and shrubs at the site, for a unique opportunity to practice fighting fires in the wildland-urban interface, according to Tory Banford of the Salem's Urban Development Department. 

"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity," said Deputy Chief Gabriel Benmoussa of the Salem Fire Department. He said he doesn't remember the last time they were able to train using a controlled wildland burn. 

The crews will create an action plan, practice commands and use different firefighting methods and tools under actual fire conditions. 

The training will start around 9 a.m. Saturday and last until early afternoon. 

Reach Samantha Hawkins at shawkins@gannett.com or 503-798-1623

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