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SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — The Utah Department of Public Safety and the Department of Natural Resources will be deploying crews to help fight the wildfires in California as early as Thursday, Jan. 9 — with some southern Utah agencies sending firefighters right away.
As of Wednesday, Jan. 8, at least five people had been killed as one of the most destructive fires in the history of Los Angeles burned about 42 square miles and leveled entire blocks. More than 1,000 structures have been destroyed, and at least 70,000 California residents were ordered to evacuate, according to the Associated Press.
Thousands of California firefighters were fighting the blaze, and LA called for the assistance of off-duty and out-of-state firefighters.
The California Office of Emergency Services sent an Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) to the DPS’s Division of Emergency Management (DEM), requesting strike teams and task forces.
EMAC is used to facilitate assistance between states during state-declared emergencies. Utah crews would be out in California for at least 14 days, with “a possibility of extension dependent on expected fire behavior and weather conditions,” a press release from DPS and DNR said.
Utah’s DEM is coordinating with local agencies to deploy three task forces as early as Thursday, Jan. 9. As of Wednesday, Jan. 8, Hurricane Valley Fire and Rescue had already sent an engine with three firefighters.
Ryan D’Ambrosio, a fire captain with Dammeron Valley Fire, has been monitoring the situation closely. His crews recently returned from a two-week deployment in California and are on standby, ready to head back.
D’Ambrosio said he is worried about the wildfires in California — as well as what that could mean for southern Utah, especially during a drought.
“There is no more fire season. Fire season is year-round now,” D’Ambrosio told ABC4.com. “And if you think it won’t happen here, especially in southern Utah, it will happen. So, we are not safe from what they are dealing with in California.”
The Utah DPS and DNR echoed that statement and said that if Utah’s offer for assistance is accepted, this situation would be Utah’s fourth deployment to California within about six months.
“The events in California serve as a reminder that wildland fires aren’t limited to a specific season and can occur year-round when conditions are right,” the agencies said in the release. “Utah is prepared to support California with additional resources and will provide help as needed.”
According to the DNR and DPS, local agencies would include Unified Fire Authority, Salt Lake City Fire, Provo Fire, Cedar City Fire, Moab Valley, and more.
“We appreciate the help from local agencies who have assisted with this request,” the release said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.