The Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management along with federal and local cooperators begin an annual, two-day wildland fire training Monday as the state prepares for the upcoming fire season.

It will be held April 1-2 at the Superstition Fire and Medical District’s Regional Training Center in Apache Junction.

The Central Arizona Wildland Response Team refresher helps promote best and safe practices on incidents and strengthens multiagency coordination and cooperation to ensure a unified engagement, according to a release.

The CAWRT drill provides Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management; federal agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and CAWRT — members the opportunity to train and interact cohesively through in-class instruction and field drills.

This year’s field drills include fire-shelter deployment, hand-line preparation, structure protection exercises, along with radio communication drills.

The training serves as the annual refresher all wildland firefighters must revisit prior to engaging on the fire line.

“We in the fire service train for worse-case scenarios. Fire knows no boundaries so it is imperative that we come together as state, federal and local cooperators to train and work as one unit. The training helps everyone get refreshed and refocused going into the 2024 wildland fire season so that we can provide the best service and response to our Arizona communities and at the end of the day, we all get to go home,” Jeff Gallivan, DFFM battalion chief and this year’s incident commander, said in the release.

“The yearly wildland refresher drill, led by CAWRT and it partnering agencies, serves as a vital platform for honing skills and fostering collaboration. By training together, we enhance our readiness to protect communities during urban interface fires, safeguarding citizens, visitors, and our firefighting colleagues,” CAWRT representative and Scottsdale Fire Department Capt. Blake Miller said in the release.

Approximately 20 central Arizona fire departments and districts participate within CAWRT to provide state and national wildland fire response. CAWRT offers state, federal, and tribal agencies a workforce of 250 wildland-qualified personnel and equipment, including Type 3 and Type 6 engines and water tenders from various Phoenix-area departments.