SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Sept. 9, 2020 (Gephardt Daily) — Forty-one firefighters from various Utah fire agencies deployed to California on Wednesday to resume firefighting efforts there.
Once the teams arrive in California, they will receive their field assignments, said a news release from Utah Division of Emergency Management. The firefighters staged and deployed from the Maverik Center in West Valley City at 8 a.m.
“They will deploy for about 16 days under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, a system of state-to-state mutual aid coordinated through state emergency management agencies,” the news release said. “California has confirmed and accepted Utah’s EMAC offer.”
This EMAC deployment includes three lead officers with two task forces. Task Force 1 consists of 21 firefighters from Unified Fire Authority, Draper, and Park City fire agencies. Task Force 2 is composed of 17 firefighters from Provo, Lone Peak, Murray, West Valley City, and Orem Fire Departments.
Thirty-four Utah firefighters recently returned from a two-week EMAC deployment to California in August.
“COVID-19 pandemic precautions will be taken to ensure the health and safety of both the firefighters deploying and those with which they will serve,” the news release said. “A representative from the Utah Department of Health was at the Maverik Center to review COVID-19 safety measures and to take the temperature of each firefighter before departing.”
