A firefighter with Aurora Fire Rescue operates on the roof of a training structure during an exercise at the city of Aurora Public Safety Training Center. The Rocky Mountain Engine Academy partnered with Aurora Fire Rescue to provide Forest Service firefighters hands-on training in fire operations and interagency coordination. (Forest Service photos by Travis Weger)
The Rocky Mountain Engine Academy at the City of Aurora Public Safety Training Center brings Forest Service firefighters and Aurora Fire Rescue together for hands-on and classroom training in engine operations, maintenance and driving. After a pandemic pause, the program returns as a centralized effort to prepare crews for a busy fire season. It supports 11 type 6 engines and one type 3 engine and covers three disciplines—preventative maintenance, pumping operations and driving—with participants earning an engine operator certificate upon demonstrating competency.
The academy emphasizes interagency coordination, with Aurora Fire Rescue personnel embedded in the teams to align communication and command. It aims to seed knowledge outward, standardize procedures and improve readiness for wildland-urban interface incidents.
For More Information: https://www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/features/training-fire-where-preparation-meets-line
