The Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands is expanding its wildfire aviation capabilities through the addition of a new helitack program designed to improve fire assessment. This expansion follows recent state-level successes in securing federal funding and receiving legislative recognition for wildland fire crews.
New helitack program expansion
According to an announcement from the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, the agency is growing its wildfire aviation program to include helitack operations. The initiative aims to provide better assessment capabilities for fire management during active incidents.
Federal funding for wildfire prevention
Financial support for community-level wildfire prevention has also been bolstered by federal resources. The Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands reported that the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a second round of funding for the Community Wildfire Defense Grant program on May 15, 2024, which provided Utah with over $5.5 million in project proposal funding.
Volunteer mitigation efforts in Moab
Wildfire mitigation efforts have seen significant activity from volunteer organizations in Southeast Utah. Between March 12 and March 18, Team Rubicon conducted Operation Grand Adventure in the Moab area, a mission focused on reducing wildfire risks specifically along Mill and Pack Creeks.
Industry awards for fire campaigns
The state's fire prevention and mitigation programs have received multiple industry accolades over the past several years. The interagency Fire Sense campaign earned the Bronze Smokey Bear Award from the U.S. Forest Service, the Ad Council, and the National Association of State Foresters.
Recognition for localized mitigation work
Team Rubicon was also recognized for its localized impact in the wildland-urban interface. The organization received the 2023 WUI Mitigation Award for its specific work conducting wildfire mitigation efforts within the Moab region.
Honors for interagency collaboration
Interagency collaboration has been a recurring theme in state fire management. On May 31, 2022, the Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands Southeast Area, along with the Bureau of Land Management Green River District and other interagency partners, were honored with the Pulaski Award.
Legislative bodies have also taken notice of the state's frontline responders. The Utah House of Representatives and the Utah Senate previously honored members of the Wildland Fire Program and crews from the Lone Peak Conservation Center on the floor of both chambers.
