The Urban Reserve is one of the very few places in the city where fire fighters can train using high-power hoses, master stream devices and aerial ladders. The Burlington Fire Department uses the paved area north of the dog park (in the Early Sucessional Upland Forest) to conduct ongoing training as well as train new recruits. This area is convenient because it doesn't have to be blocked off to traffic and it is relatively out of the way. It also offers convenient hydrant access, which other parking lots around town do not.
Any plans to remove pavement or alter the Texaco/Astroline beach area should be discussed with the Burlington Fire Department Division of Training and Safety because further "naturalizing" this area by removing concrete may make it too muddy to use for training exercises.
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| Every wonder what those orange cones are hanging from the trees? Fire fighters use those to learn how to operate aerial ladders. The cones are "windows" in the exercise and they practice positioning the truck and ladder so they can be reached. |
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| They prefer to use a paved area because otherwise it would become too muddy. |
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| The Urban Reserve is one of the few places with convenient fire hydrant access near a paved lot. |
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| "Astroline" and "Texaco" beaches are perfect for training because large areas are paved, there is plenty of parking, and the firefighters can aim their hoses right into the lake. |
The training occasionally conflicts with recreational uses because when the fire trucks need to leave the site to respond to a call, they drive alongside the bike path kicking up dust and releasing diesel emissions. This can sometimes be problematic for bikers, runners, and walkers. The staff keep driving speed low to avoid these problems.
