Utah firefighters reflect on unprecedented wildfire experience in southern California

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A Sandy firetruck being used to cool down the remains of a burned down home in California. (Unified Fire Authority)

SALT LAKE CITY — After two weeks of helping to fight the devastating wildfires in southern California, Utah firefighters are on their last 24-hour shift. Kelly Bird is one of the Unified Fire Authority firefighters who has been on the front lines. He is part of the Utah Task Force, which helps combat wildfires in southern California. "The scope and the magnitude of the destruction we have seen here is, for most of us, unprecedented," Bird said. Nearly 70 firefighters from over a dozen Utah fire departments have been deployed. UFA firefighters have captured the devastation on video, but many of them still cannot believe what they saw.After two weeks of intense work, Thursday started their final 24-hour shift before returning home. "It has been completely mind-boggling to see whole neighborhoods wiped out," Bird said.

Utah Task Force in California begin their last 24 hour shift today. Tomorrow morning we begin the demobilization process and expect to return to Utah on Sunday. #lafires #palisadesfire #california #fire #firedepartment #firefighter #firedept #firefighterlife #utah pic.twitter.com/jL0Llq5jQv — Unified Fire (@FireAuthority) January 23, 2025

The experience has been humbling for many of the firefighters, especially as residents begin to return. "We've had an opportunity to interact with them and help them in whatever way we can," Bird added. One success story involved helping a man recover some of his personal items from the rubble.

Our Unified Fire crew at the Palisades Fire was able to help a family recover some China and a safe with jewelry and family heirlooms inside. Small victories. pic.twitter.com/01dhO2X8yF — Unified Fire (@FireAuthority) January 22, 2025

Utah Fire Authority firefighters as the flames of the California wildfires burn on the horizon. (Unified Fire Authority)

This wildfire has also taught the firefighters about the potential reach of such disasters, even in areas previously considered safe. "These folks here had no anticipation. A lot of these neighborhoods were nowhere near the urban interface; they were streets and streets away from the brush and the trees and the wildland," Bird said.It has been a long couple of weeks, but starting Friday, the Utah firefighters will begin their journey back home. They are expected to arrive home on Sunday. "Ready to go home and see everybody and to get back into the routine of home," Bird said. [gallery ids="730591,730590,730589,730588,730587,730586,730585,730584,730583"]