Live-fire training strengthens Hill AFB mutual aid partnerships

Firefighters from Hill AFB Fire and Emergency Services and neighboring Davis County departments conducted live structural-fire training at Hill Air Force Base during the week of Oct. 19, 2026. The exercises were intended to build on mutual aid partnerships that support emergency response efforts on and off the installation.

The training involved realistic structural-fire scenarios at the base's training grounds. This controlled environment allowed participating firefighters to compare procedures and equipment while building familiarity with the crews and incident commanders they may encounter during real-world responses.

Hill AFB Fire and Emergency Services maintains approximately 20 mutual aid agreements with various agencies and jurisdictions. These agreements span across Davis, Weber, Tooele, Box Elder, and Morgan counties. The partnerships support the main installation as well as the Utah Test and Training Range and the Little Mountain Test Facility.

These mutual aid agreements allow agencies to share specialized capabilities, equipment, and personnel. They are part of a broader network that enables Hill firefighters to assist surrounding communities and allows local departments to provide support at the base when needed.

Richard Partington, the assistant chief of fire prevention for Hill Fire and Emergency Services, stated that training such as these live structural burns provides an opportunity to understand different departmental operations and build necessary relationships. Partington noted that the shared purpose of protecting lives and property is what makes these partnerships vital during an emergency.

For local departments, the training provides access to a live-fire facility and scenarios that may be difficult to replicate in other locations. Syracuse Fire Department Battalion Chief Jared Sholly said having the opportunity to train at this type of facility is a significant gain for firefighters.

Sholly added that mutual aid is a routine part of emergency response within Davis County. Training alongside partner agencies helps incident commanders and firefighters reduce confusion and bring resources together quickly during an incident.