Helitack crew on the recue to stop wildfires

SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands is getting a new Helitack crew to help stop wildfires this summer. 

A helitack crew is a team of firefighters transported by helicopter to wildfires. Helicopters provide rapid transport, enabling helitack crews to quickly respond and assess a wildfire situation, according to US Forest Service.

This team will also help transport equipment and supplies for firefighters on the ground.

Diamond Fork Helitack will be the crew’s name. It will be stationed at Spanish Fork Airport.

Deputy State Fire Management Officer Mike Melton said getting to a wildfire early is key. That is where their Helitack crew comes in.

A helicopter will carry up to four firefighters, strapped with a huge bucket of water to give ground fighters a head start, according to Melton. The team would be useful when they can’t get a fire engine to the location.

Crew members are highly skilled and trained to fight fires from the air and are there to improve response time, Melton mentioned 

Learn more about managing wildfires in Utah here.

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