Utah County firefighters return from 2-week deployment in New Mexico

SPANISH FORK, Utah — Wildfire season is in full swing, and crews right here in Utah have traveled each close to and much to assist hold these fires contained.

The Utah County Hearth Division’s handcrew returned Sunday morning from a latest deployment to Pecos, New Mexico, the place they helped battle the Calf Canyon Hearth.

“Everybody got here residence [with] no accidents,” crew boss Andrew Siebach mentioned. “At all times a great journey after we can have a protected journey and assist out the oldsters that wanted the assistance.”

Siebach mentioned the primary deployment of the season for his 22-person crew was successful.

They turned out there for the season on June 1 and have been despatched to Flagstaff simply two days later.

Then on June 5, they have been despatched to New Mexico to assist out with the Calf Canyon Hearth.

“Once we received there, the hearth had been going for 60 days, I imagine, already,” mentioned Siebach.

The handcrew was assigned to an enormous perimeter of a fireplace that has torched greater than 300,000 acres.

“Sixty percent-plus containment after we arrived, and we initially have been assigned to, you recognize, one of many final energetic components of the hearth,” mentioned Siebach.

READ: Wildfire close to I-80 and SLC Airport absolutely contained

Siebach mentioned his crew labored 16-hour shifts most days. They needed to battle pink flag warnings and elevated fireplace hazard as they regarded to safe the road the place they have been positioned.

“We caught some spot fires … that escaped the primary fireplace into areas the place we do not need any fireplace,” he mentioned.

After two weeks, the crew was reduce free and made their method again to the Beehive State on Sunday.

Siebach mentioned their first task gave them an opportunity to cowl lots of issues they anticipate to come across all through the remainder of the season.

“It gave lots of the rookies, you recognize, a primary glimpse of what they’ll anticipate shifting ahead, and it gave lots of the returnees an opportunity to form of refresh on some abilities,” mentioned Siebach.

He added that many in his crew have been excited to make it residence for Father’s Day to spend time with their households.

Siebach mentioned they’ll in all probability grow to be out there once more within the subsequent couple of days, prepared to assist deal with one other wildfire, if crucial.