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Sandy deploys three firefighters, engine to Palisades fire; officials stress local preparedness
Summary
Sandy City officials said three Sandy firefighters and a city engine are deployed to the Palisades fire in Malibu under a state EMAC mutual-aid request, are safe, and are expected to remain for two weeks. City leaders discussed lessons for local wildfire readiness, water-system capacity, and resident actions to create defensible space.
Three Sandy City firefighters and a Sandy engine were deployed to the Palisades fire in Malibu as part of a state Emergency Management Assistance Compact mutual-aid response, and officials said the crew is safe and will remain deployed for about two weeks.
Mayor (name not specified) opened the briefing by asking for an update on the deployed personnel and what lessons Sandy can bring home. Chief Hocconaghi, Sandy Fire Department, confirmed the crew’s condition: “Yes. First of all, I will start with, yes, they are doing well. They are fine.” He said the Sandy engine went with three Sandy firefighters alongside 15 other engines from departments across the Salt Lake Valley and Utah counties and that crews worked “for 2 and a half days straight before getting their first break.”
The deployment is an EMAC response and will be reimbursed by state and federal sources, Mayor (name not specified) said: “the state is actually going to be reimbursing Sandy Fire Department for those resources.” Officials said the reimbursement helps offset personnel and equipment costs and that the operational experience and certifications crews receive during out-of-state deployments strengthen Sandy’s local wildland readiness.
Why it matters: Sandy officials said the city’s local terrain and open space — including Dimple Dell Park and areas along the Wasatch Front — can present wildland-urban interface risk similar to the conditions seen in Southern California, making mutual-aid experience and local preparedness important.
Public Utilities and water infrastructure
Scott Ellis, Public Utilities, described Sandy’s water capacity and maintenance efforts in the context of firefighting needs: “we have more than 35,000,000 gallons worth of storage in our 9 tanks that are always full and always functional. And, we have over 7,000 fire hydrants.” Ellis said the system can run multiple hydrants for hours and that Sandy can boost water across pressure zones and import water through two treatment plants if needed, but acknowledged that an extreme, simultaneous draw could still overwhelm any system. He told the council the city has about 400 miles of waterline pipe, much installed in the 1970s and 1980s, and that the system’s ongoing replacement needs were part of the rationale for a water rate increase last year.
Local preparedness and community programs
Officials urged residents to prepare defensible space and family evacuation plans. Chief Hocconaghi promoted Sandy’s Ready, Set, Go program and community volunteer efforts; he said volunteers receive monthly trainings and the department hosts an annual wildfire-preparedness event at Hidden Valley Park. “A big thing for our community is to be ready for evacuation and to have a plan,” the mayor said, noting households should assemble go-bags, important documents and reconnection plans for family members separated during an emergency.
Deployment details and next steps
Chief Hocconaghi said the Sandy crew will be deployed for two weeks, beginning the previous Thursday, and that the city receives nightly updates from the deployment: “they'll be there for 2 weeks, that started this past Thursday. So, they're doing well.” City staff said they will publish preparedness resources and QR links on Sandy’s website and social media, and plan a community debrief when the crews return to share operational lessons learned.
Officials emphasized the limits of local government alone in catastrophic events and framed continued investment in personnel, apparatus and water infrastructure as necessary to maintain mutual-aid capability without degrading local coverage. Mayor (name not specified) highlighted recent staffing increases: “4 years ago, we had 84 sworn firefighters on Sandy Fire Department, and today, we have a 101 positions.”
The city also referenced FEMA training and regular exercises as part of ongoing readiness work. Officials closed by expressing concern for those affected by the California fires and by thanking residents for funding public-safety investments through local taxes.
