Utah firefighters head to California to swap crews and help out

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah — A team of 45 Utah firefighters is heading to northern California to swap crews and offer assistance.

The firefighters met at the Maverick Center Wednesday morning before heading out.

Unified Fire Authority Assistant Chief Riley Pilgrim explained that swapping crews with neighboring states is a strategic approach that benefits everyone involved.

“There’s tiers of collaboration that are happening all the time. And so, it’s designed to ensure one area is not left without,” said Pilgrim. 

Crew swapping has become a norm for Utah firefighters, especially during peak fire season according to Pilgrim. He said the system makes sure resources are shared properly and that it goes both ways. 

“We look at all that stuff on a state level, not just said a local level, but all the way to the state to make sure we can meet the needs of Utah before we send anything out,” said Pilgrim. 

The incoming crew will take over for firefighters that have been on the front lines for the past two weeks. Pilgrim said they can always say no or pull back the team if Utah needs them. 

“We evaluate every single one of these, ensure we’re not depleting stuff,” said Pilgrim.

Pilgrim confirmed Utah and our neighbor states are currently at the highest level of wildfire danger. Thoroughly looking at resources and coordinating with neighboring states helps both ways.

Firefighting crews swap out every two weeks so they can come home and rest.

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