Air traffic in the skies above Cottonwood this week might lead some people to believe that a major fire is raging. Aerial firefighting crews from Cal-Fire and the Forest Service will be conducting joint tactical training exercises. The Redding Air Attack Base is the largest base of its kind in Northern California, and serves both Cal-Fire and the U.S. Forest Service. Last week was the classroom portion of the training in Sacramento. This week they’ll take to the skies. Students are learning to coordinate airtankers, helicopters, military firefighting aircraft, and smoke jumpers. They’ll be working a simulated fire in the southeast area of Lake California. The public is advised not to be alarmed.
– Steve Gibson