How firefighters keep track of new starts to keep the public safe

SALT LAKE CITY — Over the weekend, Utah saw 14 wildfire starts in a single day. KSL took a closer look at how the huge support teams behind firefighters keep track of new starts and make sure the public gets timely alerts to stay safe.

"Communication is probably one of the most important things we do," said communications specialist Kelly Wickens, with Utah's Division of Fire, Forestry and State Lands.

"And on wildland fires... at times it's life or death," she said.

She explained that once a fire is reported, dispatch operators will make sure crews know where the fire is and designate a name for it.

The first boots on the ground establish an incident commander based on jurisdiction and available leadership, who then reports back through interagency dispatch Centers. They confirm things like the size of the fire, exact location, and resources needed.

"First and foremost, we always prioritize life safety, which is the evacuation notices, the road closures and any public safety information that we have," said Wickens.

A duty officer at the state level will receive that information and work with communications experts like Wickens to involve the public and state or local leadership.

Wickens was called into work on what should have been a day off over the weekend to help with the massive number of wildfire starts.

"I felt like I was running a marathon, not a sprint," she said.

She said the weekend brought a grueling workload, but the process worked exactly as it should have.

"I think that has a lot to do with how we normally communicate," she said. "We do this on a daily basis. And so it just was quicker, faster."

Wickens said more information, like fire size and location, can be tracked on Utah Fire Info's website.

Related topics