TOOELE, Utah — Crews from Utah traveled to Oregon to help contain the Falls Fire, which has burned over 140,000 acres and is now 73 percent contained.

One such fighter is Julius Gallegos from North Tooele Fire District.

“It can be pretty challenging, but very rewarding,” said Gallegos, a seasonal wildland firefighter. “Long hours – sometimes 16 hour days for 2 or 3 weeks straight, working in the sun, steep terrain, lot of physical labor.”

This is Gallegos’ wildfire first season with the North Tooele Fire District.

“It’s a very dynamic job. You never know what you’ll be doing that day.” He said. “Trimming up trees, chopping down trees, patrolling the roads, patrolling the fire lines, making sure that there are now spot fires that have passed the roads, cleaning up edges to prevent further spread.”

Back at home, Gallegos has been busy with fires here too.

“We’re just barely starting this fire season. It’s projected that fire season will go till early, mid-October this year.”

They work with other agencies nationwide through a mutual aid program.

“It also gives them the opportunity to further their skill set in a wide variety of terrain, with other types of firefighters and other types of trucks that we might not have ready access to train on because of their constant use,” said fellow North Tooele Fire District Jon Smith.

The best way to fight wildfires is to prevent them. This helps departments like the North Tooele Fire District because many of their firefighters are volunteers.

“By not dragging your chains, by not parking your cars in high vegetation, but not shooting into high tall grass or using exploding targets,” said Smith. “And not throwing cigarettes out the windows. And when we’re camping and recreating on BLM land, make sure you’re putting those fires out.”

Through a federal grant awarded to the North Tooele Fire District, Gallegos can now help people within their district with fire prevention for free.

“Me and my partner will come out and survey your home, and give you advice on how you can better prevent a fire from destroying your home,” added Gallegos.

Hoping to continue to save lives – wherever he is called.

“Firefighting is a very rewarding profession for me personally, and I’m honored to be there and help out my community and help out my country, in any ways that I can,” said Gallegos.

EUGENE — The third day of fall camp is always marked by the first practice in shoulder pads and the day was far more significant than that off the field for Oregon, which officially entered the Big Ten.

The historic nature of the day wasn’t lost on Dan Lanning, but the formal conclusion of a process that effectively began two years ago and was voted through last year made for more pomp and circumstance outside the walls of the Hatfield-Dowlin Complex and away from the practice field.

“Landmark day here for Oregon; we’re officially members of the Big Ten,” Lanning said. “Thrilled to obviously be a part of that. More importantly, the work on the field today we put on our practice shells. So it looks a little different. You can hear the pops out there. Thought guys had a good physical practice. Conscientiously as coaches, we took a little bit off of them here this first day as we start to ramp things up moving forward, but did a really good day. Good day three. Gotta keep building off of it.”

The “Generation O” series of Oregon uniforms simply cannot miss.

The latest uniform combo was released Friday. “Generation O: Mighty Oregon” was inspired by “The Catch”. That’s the uniform worn by the Ducks, and legendary wide receiver Pat Johnson, for the 1997 game against Washington. That’s the game the Ducks were up 24-3, gave up 25 consecutive points, but got a touchdown in the closing minutes to upset the Huskies and end their 12-game Pac-10 winning streak.

“A modern, throwback-style white uniform with apple green lettering and trim,” the release video begins. The uniform is topped by the O helmet with a university gold base and green O. The pants are also university gold, while the Fighting Duck logo adorns the outside of both shoulders.

Narrating/hosting the release video is none other than former Oregon coach Rich Brooks. He led the Ducks from 1977 through 1994.

These are the first white uniforms of the “Generation O” series. They had been leaked earlier in the day by a presumably accidental social media post.

The two previously released “Generation O” uniforms were the all-black “Fly Era” and the all-green “Gang Green”. That also makes this set the first to mix colors between the jersey and pants, as opposed to the singular color from helmet on down.

As of Friday, Oregon is officially a member of the Big Ten Conference. With a reputation of being on the cutting edge of uniform design, dropping the next “Generation O” style was perfectly timed. Now to just get these beauties on sale ahead of the season.