Las Flores Ranch Fuel Reduction Burn Brings Regional Fire Agencies Together to Protect Inland Empire Communities
More than 800 firefighters from 18 agencies across San Bernardino and Riverside counties came together over four days to complete a fuel reduction burn at Las Flores Ranch.
The San Bernardino County Training Officers Association helped support the effort by recognizing the fuel reduction burn as an opportunity. Their involvement brought multiple agencies together in a setting where personnel could sharpen wildland firefighting skills, improve communication, and reinforce existing relationships before the next emergency.
The project treated approximately 400 acres of hazardous vegetation within Las Flores Ranch. This work helps reduce wildfire risk to the community of Hesperia, the Mojave River watershed, and critical infrastructure including the California Aqueduct.
The fuel reduction burn also provided an important opportunity for regional fire agencies to work side by side under realistic wildland fire conditions. Just as they would during a major incident, firefighters, aircraft, supervisors, and incident management team personnel coordinated across agency lines to safely complete the operation.
Aircraft from CAL FIRE and San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department supported the operation, allowing ground crews and aviation resources to coordinate throughout the project. Personnel practiced initial attack operations, resource ordering, ground and air crew coordination and firefighter injury response procedures.
XBO Incident Management Team (IMT) facilitated the drill throughout the week performing the functions of command, operations, planning, logistics and finance. An additional 70 fire personnel worked towards qualifications in a variety of command and general staff positions within the IMT structure.
“Projects like this directly improve public safety,” said Anthony Rapoza, Incident Commander with XBO Incident Management Team. “They reduce hazardous fuel in a critical area while giving our regional fire agencies the opportunity to work together before lives, property, and infrastructure are threatened.”
The project reflects the continued commitment of local, county, state, and regional fire service partners to wildfire preparedness, community protection, and coordinated emergency response.
Residents are encouraged to maintain defensible space, harden homes against embers, and stay informed through their local fire agency and emergency notification systems. @CALFIREBDU@CALFIRERRU@SBCSDAviation@OntarioFireDept@cvifd@RialtoFireDept@RedlandsFD@coltonfiredept@LomalindaFire@CoronaFireDept@BarstowFire@RCFD_PIO
#SMOKE ADVISORY (Tuesday, April 7th):
Smoke and #Ash from a large structure fire burning near #Ontario is affecting our #AirQuality: https://t.co/Y158OoPtBX
COMING SOON: Firefighter Recruitment
Firefighter applications will be accepted from May 26 to June 16, 2026.
Learn more or find qualification guidelines visit https://t.co/t8DDthSFN4.
It is becoming increasingly likely that the weather may be TOO nice in parts of Southern California through this evening. Hazards include forgetting that it is February and general feelings of happiness.
A Flood Advisory is in effect until 2:54 p.m. this afternoon for parts of San Bernardino County. Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. ⚠️🚘
For more safety tips, please visit https://t.co/u3gMuaypge. 📱
#weatheralert
Recently, the Fire District & @RanchoPD launched the Caught with Your Helmet On program, in which public safety personnel will hand out a reward when they see youth in the community wearing their helmets!
Please help us encourage the children in our community to ride safely!
Incident Update 1/19/26 - Public safety personnel are responding to the North Etiwanda Preserve for a medical emergency. We ask the public to avoid the area to give public safety personnel the space to work.
Updates will be provided as they become available. @CityOfRC@RanchoPD
Incident Update 1/19/26 - Public safety personnel are responding to the North Etiwanda Preserve for a medical emergency. We ask the public to avoid the area to give public safety personnel the space to work.
Updates will be provided as they become available. @CityOfRC@RanchoPD
🖤 It is with profound sadness that we announce the line of duty death of Fire Apparatus Engineer Daniel “Danny” Cook.
Engineer Cook passed away earlier today while engaged in firefighting operations. His service, dedication, and sacrifice will never be forgotten.
Please keep his family, loved ones, and our fire department family in your thoughts.
A temporary closure of the Mt. Baldy area in the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument is in effect through December 31, 2025. For more info, visit: https://t.co/TWfaZuUMJe
Be #ReadyRC!🌧️ A rainstorm is headed our way with the heaviest rain expected on Christmas Eve, Wednesday, 12/24. With significant weather in the forecast, be sure to prepare sandbags before any flooding occurs.
Visit https://t.co/yfF7jE6MNH for a map of the sandbag stations.
This morning #SBCoFD assisted @RCFD_PIO at a residential fire. For further information, see their incident release at the link below:
https://t.co/HPHGBLrbGi
We stand with the Alhambra Police Department and our law enforcement family as they mourn the tragic loss of Officer Alec Sanders, who gave his life in the line of duty on November 20, 2025.
Rest in peace, Officer Alec Sanders.
San Bernardino County Fire request additional resources from the California Office of Emergency Services in preparation for the upcoming storm system.
This Type Three Prepositioned Strike Team is available to be dispatched anywhere in the county and will be available all weekend. The team is made up of personnel from the Redlands FD, Ontario FD, Apple Valley FPD, Victorville FD, Rancho Cucamonga FPD and the San Manuel FD. In addition a County Fire hand crew, battalion chief, and dispatcher were added as well.
The City of Rancho Cucamonga invites the community, alongside @RanchoPD, to join us for a Community Vigil in Remembrance of Deputy Andrew Nunez.
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Rancho Cucamonga Civic Center, 10500 Civic Center Drive
@sbcountysheriff
ROAD CLOSURE ALERT – Monday, October 27 – 8:30 p.m.
Due to ongoing police investigation, the following roads continue to be closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic:
• Arbor Ln. between Church St. & Cultural Center Dr.
• Cultural Center Dr. between Day Creek Blvd. & Arbor Ln.