Utah firefighters asked to assist fighting Los Angeles fires
Jan 8, 2025, 4:46 PM | Updated: Jan 9, 2025, 10:30 am
Flames from the Palisades Fire burn a building on Sunset Boulevard amid a powerful windstorm on January 8, 2025 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. (Apu Gomes, Getty Images)
(Apu Gomes, Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY —Firefighters from Unified Fire Authority have been asked to help battle the deadly wildfires in Los Angeles. And colleagues in the North Tooele Fire District say those men and women will be able to hit the ground running.
North Tooele Fire District spokesperson and 103.5 The Arrow host Jon Smith has helped fight fires in other states before.
He says his colleagues train for every type of scenario, including the kind of fires burning around Los Angeles. In August, Utah firefighters joined others in northern California to fight the Park Fire.
“It is very much a rewarding experience to be there to help,” Smith said.
Los Angeles fires update
According to the Los Angeles Times, by Wednesday afternoon more than 1,000 homes and businesses were destroyed.
Four fires are burning in southern California. The largest, the Palisades, has burned nearly 16,000 acres. On Wednesday afternoon ABC7 confirmed that five people had died in nearby Eaton.
When Unified Fire arrives in California, they’ll be able to help quickly. Smith said they know the terrain pretty well.
And he said that the Utah firefighters are happy to help.
“At the end of the day, we’re all Americans. When Americans need help, Americans step up and it’s a very good feeling when you get to go and help out.”
Other reading:
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- Retired fire chief Steve Foote has died, South Salt Lake Fire says
- Utah firefighters head to California to swap crews and help out
