VIDEO: Sixteen recruits and a whole lot of dust.
Wildfire season is here and local fire recruits spent Thursday learning how to knock out wildland similar to what we saw last year in Bofer Canyon.
Richland Fire Captain Adam Hardgrove says there's just no substitute for hands-on training.
"Let's see how it works, how fire behaves, so their first interaction with wildland fire isn't when it counts," he explains. "So when the time comes to answer the call and we're ready to do it."
Captain Hardgrove says rather than Powerpoint slides and static displays, the Tri-Cities Fire Academy wants students to get the full wildfire experience.
Somewhere to learn, ask questions, and make mistakes.
Kennewick fire recruit Cheyenne Griffith says the exercise was her first time dealing with fast-moving wildfires, and the experience was important.
"It's not very scary after we have the experience of learning about it," she said. "I feel more comfortable with it now."