Dozens of Utah firefighters prepare to help fight California fires
Jan 8, 2025, 10:04 PM | Updated: 10:56 pm
SALT LAKE CITY – Dozens of Utah firefighters are gearing up for a critical mission to Southern California, where devastating wildfires have already destroyed more than a thousand structures, including homes.
About 60 firefighters from across Utah will depart early Thursday morning after a pre-deployment briefing. The crews, equipped with five engines per team and three to four firefighters per engine, are part of a broader emergency response effort requested by California officials.
“It’s obviously something very tragic,” Kelly Bird, public information officer for Unified Fire Authority, said. “We have a pretty large contingent of firefighters from around the state that are going to be deployed tomorrow morning.”
Bird is one of the many firefighters answering the call for help, leaving Utah for at least a couple of weeks. While their specific tasks in California are still being determined, they may assist with evacuations, fire suppression efforts, or combating wildfires directly in the field.
“We’ll prepare for everything,” Bird noted. “We’ll make sure we bring sleeping bags.”
The request for aid came in shortly after midnight, according to Angela Lang from the Utah Division of Emergency Management.
California has asked for hundreds of personnel and 40 strike teams to respond to the dire conditions. Utah is contributing three teams, consisting of roughly 60 firefighters, to help address the crisis.
Lang emphasized the significance of Utah’s contribution, saying, “California sent out two requests just after midnight.” This level of coordination shows how severe the situation is.
For Bird and his fellow firefighters, the mission is more than just an opportunity to help — it’s also a chance to gain valuable experience in large-scale disaster response.
“I’m excited to go and be able to have this experience so that I can bring it back here and use it moving forward,” Bird said.
While it’s common for Utah firefighters to assist other states, the size of this deployment highlights the urgent need for support. The extensive wildfires in California have strained local resources, making out-of-state assistance crucial.
As the Utah crews prepare to head west, they bring with them not only their expertise but also a commitment to support those affected by one of California’s most challenging fire seasons.
