Firefighters burning Petaluma building in training exercise

Training firefighters battled heavy smoke, heat and fire Sunday at a controlled burn at a building off Lakeville Highway in Petaluma.

Crews from the Sonoma County Fire and Emergency Services Department, volunteer departments and neighboring agencies gathered for the first of two training days in June, held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Browns Lane near Ely Road South was closed Sunday during the exercise.

Training officers set a number of large fires in a vacant building donated by Jackson Family Winery.

Crews practiced skills, including searching for victims, aggressive firefighting techniques, smoke removal and firefighter survival methods.

The next training session will be held June 16. They will burn a second building off Browns Lane.