Longmont, CO – The Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) and the Colorado National Guard (CONG) will conduct helicopter-based fire suppression and classroom training on April 10-26, 2024. Dubbed the Colorado Fire Aviation Summit (COFAS), this annual interagency wildland fire training exercise will be conducted along with Boulder Fire-Rescue, the City of Longmont, the Longmont Fire Department, the USDA Forest Service (USFS), and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

The training exercises include targeted aerial water delivery practice at Chatfield State Park in Littleton, CO; Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge in Commerce City, CO; and Ralph Price Reservoir at Button Rock Preserve in Longmont, CO. Aircraft will take off from Vance Brand Municipal Airport in Longmont, CO and Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora, CO. The training aims to improve coordinated response and airspace deconfliction for air- and ground-based response elements during emergencies between federal, state, and local agencies.  Most aircraft will be flying April 10-12, 17-19, 21, and 24-26 (please note: some dates are backup/weather delay dates.)

“The importance of this type of training in wildland fire cannot be overstated,” said DFPC Director Mike Morgan. “The wildland fire environment we face today, and what we will face in the future, necessitates that we continue to pursue learning and growth in lock-step with our partners.”

In addition to aerial operations, the conference will include academic training at the Army Aviation Support Facility, Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora. Months of planning have included coordination with local authorities for site locations, movement of equipment, and environmental considerations.

“This training is an integral part of our overall domestic response training,” ‎said Colorado Army National Guard Director of Aviation and Safety, Colonel Will Gentle. “We will use this exercise to qualify and validate our aircrews to ensure they are ready to respond to wildland fires. Integrating aircrews with ground personnel adds a dynamic and complex layer of realism.”

The goal is to provide a safe and realistic training environment for comprehensive training, practice, and development of skills for all agencies involved. Temporary public safety closures will be in effect at Button Rock Preserve while aircraft are operating in the area; please refer to the attached closure notice and map for more detailed information.

2024 COFAS Trail Closures Map_Button Rock Preserve