This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

Please enable Javascript to watch this video

Five acres of the Eldorado National Forest burned Thursday on purpose. It was a way for firefighters to learn how to put wildfires out.

It was a fake scenario with real dangers. A mock plane crash sparked a wildfire, but the smoke and flames were all genuine.

The prescribed burn exercise is the preparation U.S. Forest Service firefighters need. It's one of the only live fire exercises the agency does a year.

"We didn't give them any information, we dispatched them to the fire, they get out here, see fire on the ground, they have to start making decisions," said Suppression Battalion Chief Tyler Anderson.

Crews were put to work on the five acre fire -- from putting water on the flames and cutting down trees to digging a fire line to make sure the fire didn't spread. Just like attacking a real wildfire, this job isn't easy.

"It's very labor intensive, you got your pack on all day and you try to be in the best physical shape that you can," said Helitech Captain Matt Lynde.

It's not just about preparing for the physical demands but also the mental demands.

"Getting our mind-set in the fire aspect what we need to do, what we did good, what we need to improve on," Anderson said.

Whether you're a 16-year Forest Service veteran like Lynde or have only been on the job for a few months, the exercise gives all firefighters new skills to tackle flames this summer.

38.795363 -120.251273