
Cal Fire and the U.S. Forest Service are heading to the skies in Northern California ahead of wildfire season. Crews are training in Tehama County on how to fight fires from the air, catching blazes early and preventing spread. Part of the training involves smoke jumping, parachuting from a plane into rugged terrain. There are only two aerial programs like it in the U.S., one in Tehama County and one in Arizona. Some trainees travel from other countries to attend. Firefighters also learn how to control aircraft over wildfires, use helicopters and tankers, and apply strategies to put out fires.