UNIFIRE reports higher call volumes, wildland deployments and capital plans

Jeremy Raymond, director of the UNIFIRE Suppression Special Service District, presented the district’s 2024 activity report and 2025 priorities to the Uinta County Commission.

Raymond said the district logged about 620 total fire calls in 2024, 6,725.5 public-relation person-hours and 1,005.67 total training hours. He said the district employs two full-time staff plus one full-time wildland engine captain and approximately 100 part-time firefighters. Those part-time firefighters perform many inspection and public-education duties; Raymond said volunteers who complete training are paid an hourly rate for responses and that certified responders receive a higher rate.

Raymond showed a multi-year increase in brush fires and said 2024 saw a rise in brush-fire responses; he said 2024 and the current spring had been busy with brush incidents. He described common call types: fire alarms and carbon-monoxide responses (frequently false alarms or maintenance issues), brush fires, and structure fires. Raymond noted Naples and Vernal stations reported the highest call volumes.

On staffing and capability, Raymond said about 90% of firefighters are "red carded" (an authorization from the State of Utah to fight wildland fires). He explained some members cannot pass the federal pack test that permits entry into hot zones, so those members are assigned to support tasks such as driving trucks.

Raymond described the district’s wildland crew program—started three years earlier—which has hired a full-time wildland engine captain and two seasonal wildland firefighters. He said the crew has already been deployed twice this year to out-of-state assignments (Kansas and another state) and that the program has produced net revenue to the district in recent years, returning roughly $100,000–$150,000 in profit back to the district over two years.

Capital projects Raymond listed include a Naples ladder truck on order, a Jensen rescue truck and additional brush trucks and a pumper for Avalon; five- to ten-year plans include a Ballard-area fire station and a life-safety command trailer. Raymond thanked county PILT funding for planned washer/dryer and shower facilities at stations to reduce cancer risk for firefighters and improve decontamination processes.

Commissioners asked about inspections, volunteer EMT training and compensation; Raymond said new business-licensing and construction notifications are routed to the district through the county/cities' iWORKS system and that the district conducts new-business inspections and assists on new construction and wildland–urban interface reviews.

Raymond closed by thanking firefighters, board members and county support and invited questions.