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 acred 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.