Where there’s smoke ... there are crews training at Turlock Lake for fire season

As California braces for another wildfire season, fire agencies from across the state are gathering in Stanislaus County this week for hands-on training aimed at preparing bulldozer operators for real-life wildfire scenarios.

The five-day Dozer Operations Academy started Tuesday, May 27, and wraps up Saturday, May 31, at Turlock Lake State Recreational Area.

The training includes simulated burns throughout the week and will culminate in live fire exercises from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. Residents near the park can expect to see smoke and an increased presence of firefighting equipment.

Bulldozers are a key firefighting tool used to clear vegetation and create fire lines that help contain wildfires. This marks the second year the Dozer Operations Academy is being held in Modesto. It’s hosted by the Modesto Fire Department and Cal Fire’s Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit, with support from the Turlock Irrigation District.

“It’s something that we’re looking to continue on an annual basis moving forward, because we have a dozer now for the department,” Modesto Fire Department Capt. Joseph Spani said. “There’s a large potential for us to use our dozer across the county.”

The academy’s goal is to standardize the skills and knowledge required to safely and effectively operate bulldozers in wildfire conditions. Participants will train in simulated emergency environments and practice working alongside firefighting aircraft and other heavy equipment.

“Our guys are making a transition from being on a fire engine or ladder truck to the wildland element,” Spani said. “Going up into the hills, the forest — to a completely different environment than the urban environment that we typically serve in — is an adjustment.”

The exercise is part of a broader fire mitigation strategy shaped by community and stakeholder input. Prescribed burns will be closely monitored throughout the day using a “go/no-go” checklist based on weather, fuel conditions, and overall safety. Fire operations will be suspended immediately if conditions become unsafe.

This story was originally published May 28, 2025 at 3:32 PM.