SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — As Utah heads into what could be a dangerous wildfire season, crews are already receiving requests to deploy, months earlier than usual.
For many on these teams, that means being ready to leave home at a moment’s notice, often for weeks at a time.
Wildland firefighting teams say what was once a defined fire season has now stretched into a year-round reality, driven by increasingly dry conditions across the West. Those conditions are fueling concerns that this year could be one of the busiest yet.
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For much of her life, Faith Davis knew she wanted to become a wildland firefighter. Now, she’s part of the Lone Peak Fire District wildland crew.
Now entering her fourth season, Davis is part of a team trained to respond wherever they’re needed, often with little notice.
“It could be here or we can honestly go anywhere,” Davis said. “I don’t usually know until we get there.”
That uncertainty is part of the job. Deployments can last two to three weeks and frequently take crews across state lines.
Chris Willden, who leads the department’s wildland program, said his team can be ready to leave quickly.
“Our turnaround time is about two hours to get back to the station from the time I get off the phone,” Willden said.
Requests for help are already coming in. According to Willden, the team has received multiple out-of-state deployment requests, including two from Texas and one to assist in Nebraska.
With an unusually dry winter across much of the West, Willden said the early demand is a warning sign.
“Fire season is already here, substantially earlier than normal,” he said.
To prepare, the group undergoes intensive training and makes sure equipment is ready at all times. That includes multi-day sessions and routine checks of vehicles and gear.
Each member also packs essential equipment in advance, including a “red bag” filled with clothing and supplies for extended assignments, and a “line pack” used on the fire line.
The line pack contains critical items such as water, tools and an emergency fire shelter, equipment that can be lifesaving in worst-case scenarios.
“If we do get into a situation where escape routes are blocked, that’s where we’re going to have to deploy our shelter,” Davis said. “That’s why we always keep our pack with us.”
The growing wildfire threat is also tied to development in fire-prone areas. A burn scar visible in the mountains above the Lone Peak fire station serves as a reminder of the risks.
“All of the gray trees that’s the burn scar from the Quail Fire,” Willden said.
For crews like Davis’, the mission is straightforward: be ready to respond whenever and wherever they’re needed.
“I just trust my training, trust my crew,” Davis said. “We’ll do what we have to do and be okay.”
Until then, they wait for the next call.
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