Unified Fire Authority got an email around 2 p.m. Friday asking for whatever help they could provide to fight the wildfires raging in northern and southern California.
After shuffling schedules for the firefighters who would remain, UFA decided to send 11 people and three fire crews. Firefighters from Lehi, Bluffdale, Cedar City and Draper are also going, UFA spokesman Keith Garner said.
It’s the first time Utah crews have been sent to California to fight wildfires since one of their own — Draper Fire Chief Matthew Burchett — was killed battling the Mendocino Complex Fire in August when a tree fell on him.