San Diego Fire-Rescue Conducts Large-Scale Wildfire Training

Agencies practice coordinated response to prepare for next major blaze

Apr. 17, 2026 at 12:13am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A sweeping, atmospheric landscape painting in muted tones of gray, blue, and green, depicting a dense urban neighborhood surrounded by rolling hills and a dramatic, cloudy sky. The small houses and buildings are dwarfed by the vast, natural elements, conveying the overwhelming scale and power of the environment.As San Diego prepares for the next major wildfire, this training exercise underscores the city's efforts to protect its densely populated communities from the overwhelming power of nature.San Diego Today

The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department is running a large-scale training exercise in the Skyline neighborhood this week to sharpen decision-making and response strategies for critical wildfire incidents. The simulation is modeled after recent destructive fires in Los Angeles, with a focus on evacuating densely populated urban areas and utilizing real-time technology to monitor fire activity.

Why it matters

Wildfires pose a major threat to many San Diego communities, and this training exercise aims to ensure first responders are prepared to coordinate an effective and efficient response when the next major blaze occurs. Skyline was selected due to its vulnerability, with dense housing and green spaces that could fuel a fast-moving fire under the right conditions.

The details

The training takes place at the San Diego Police Department's Southeastern Division parking lot in Skyline. It incorporates realistic fire scenarios using state-of-the-art technology like Tablet Command, which allows departments to monitor fire activity in real time. Multiple agencies, including the San Diego Police Department, SDG&E, and park rangers, are participating to practice coordinated response. A key focus is on evacuation procedures, which fire officials have identified as a major challenge in large-scale wildfire incidents.

  • The training exercise is taking place this week (April 17-21, 2026).
  • It is modeled after the Eaton and Palisades Fires that occurred in Los Angeles.

The players

San Diego Fire-Rescue Department

The local fire department leading the large-scale training exercise to prepare for potential wildfires.

San Diego Police Department

A participating agency working alongside firefighters to practice coordinated response during the training simulation.

SDG&E

A utility company participating in the training exercise to ensure all relevant parties can respond effectively during a real-world wildfire emergency.

Park Rangers

Additional personnel joining the training to help coordinate a comprehensive response across different agencies and jurisdictions.

William Pidgeon

A former firefighter and the co-founder and CEO of Tablet Command, a software that allows departments to monitor fire activity in real time during the training exercise.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Specifically in Skyline, it's a densely populated urban area with green spaces in between the homes. There is potential in any of those green spaces to have a fast-moving vegetation fire that under the right extreme weather conditions, could turn into a structure to structure event similar to the Eaton fire.”

— Captain J. Harris

“What this does, it replaces the whiteboard or the piece of paper they might be using at the back of the command post. Everyone is able to see this in real time, from the Comm 1 vehicle, to the communication center to the staff, that are watching this incident.”

— William Pidgeon, Former firefighter and co-founder and CEO of Tablet Command

What’s next

After the training exercise, fire officials will evaluate the lessons learned and identify any areas for improvement in San Diego's wildfire preparedness. The department plans to continue conducting regular large-scale training simulations to ensure first responders are ready to effectively coordinate a response when the next major wildfire strikes.

The takeaway

This training exercise highlights the ongoing efforts by San Diego's first responders to proactively prepare for the growing threat of wildfires. By practicing coordinated response strategies and leveraging advanced technology, the city aims to protect its densely populated communities and minimize the impact of future blazes.