VIDEO: During wildfires, we often seen bulldozers clearing brush, building fire breaks and more. It's difficult and important work. There is just one Dozer Training Academy in the entire nation and it's in San Bernardino County.
Mastering the machinery isn't easy. In fact, there's a lot of risk associated with operating bull dozers on the front lines of a fast moving fire, where the natural environment can be dangerous. That's why the San Bernardino Fire Protection District is putting operators, old and new, through Dozer Academy. In the training, firefighters are working with live fire.
"There's no way to duplicate live fire without that, in a real setting with real terrain, wind, all the things that can actually change," said Ted Mohr, dozer operator, San Bernardino County Fire Department.