VIDEO: As wildfires in California push closer to homes, firefighters in Scottsdale spent the day training for that exact scenario. As our urban sprawl pushes farther into the desert, there's a real risk that a wildfire could come down into a neighborhood.
It's a scenario Scottsdale fire wants to be ready for. They call it "wildlife urban interface training."
Working in a real neighborhood with help from those who live there, Scottsdale Fire practiced what they would do if a wildfire started creeping into the wash behind homes there.
“It's invaluable for us to do this,” said Cpt. David Folio with Scottsdale Fire. They say it's a different kind of firefighting than structure fires or wildland fires, rather a fast-moving combination of both where crews need to work fast to save lives and buildings.