Three CA Firefighters Injured During Prescribed Burn

Three California firefighters were injured while working on a prescribed burn Monday.

Crews from the Viejas Fire Department and CAL FIRE were part of the operation to monitor a controlled burn at Cuyamaca Rancho State Park in San Diego County, KNSD-TV reports. The fire at the park was started around 8:30 a.m., but at about 4:30 p.m., more firefighters were called in to help as winds became stronger.

Two Viejas firefighters and a CAL FIRE firefighters suffered smoke inhalation and were taken to the hospital. They stayed overnight to be evaluated. 

According to CAL FIRE, the burn was being done to help "reduce fire load and improve habitat" over a 50-acre area in the park. The agency warned that smoke would be visible throughout the day.

Along with the firefighters who suffered from smoke inhalation, two CAL FIRE firefighters also had an allergic reaction to vegetation or something in the ground during the burn, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. They were taken to the hospital as a precaution, a CAL FIRE spokesman said.