Yolo County firefighters are gearing up for a major wildfire training exercise this weekend. And Tuesday night they’re conducting a pre-burn…to set up a perimeter line. 

Mike Chandler is chief of the Rumsey Rancheria Fire Department, one of around 20 agencies taking part in the exercise. He says the goal of Saturday’s burn is to brush up on firefighting techniques. 

“We’ll be burning approximately 400 acres of grassy-type fuels. It will keep the firefighters busy from oh around 7 in the morning until 4 o’clock in the afternoon. They’ll have plenty of activity and we’ll work them pretty hard during that period of time."

They’ll also be testing their radio communications procedures. 

More than 100 firefighters from Woodland, West Sacramento, Clarksburg and other parts of Yolo County will be taking part. 

Saturday’s annual training burn will take place on land owned by a local family who offer acreage on their ranch for the exercise.