The Ochoco National Forest will host the Central Oregon Rappelers’ Mountain Week rookie training Monday, May 6th and Wednesday, May 8th. Mountain Week is part of the Central Oregon Rappelers 5-week rookie training course. If weather conditions permit, training will include live fire exercises. Ignitions are planned for 10:00 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 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. More info at centraloregonfire.org
