West Valley City fire officials outline wildfire preparedness, showcase new wildland engines and warn about fireworks and water safety

Deputy Chief Chris Bichner of the West Valley City Fire Department led a summer-safety briefing that covered wildfire preparedness, new wildland apparatus and water and fireworks safety ahead of the busy season.

Bichner said residents should create defensible space by mowing or weed-whacking overgrown lot lines, removing dense ground cover and clearing pine needles from roofs and gutters. "The best thing you can do is create some defensible space," he said, and he urged homeowners to ensure garden hoses can reach their property perimeter and to wet down structures if smoke is noticed.

Bichner showcased two wildland units the department uses for wildfire response: a newly acquired Type 3 engine (a BME) assigned to Station 76 with four-wheel drive, a roughly 500-gallon tank and a pump the department described as capable of about 1,000 gallons per minute, and a Type 6 unit with about a 300-gallon tank valued for mountain mobility. He also noted the department maintains a surplus military vehicle that carries about 1,000 gallons of water for local response. The department currently operates five wildland apparatus and deploys multiple units to support wildland season across Utah and into surrounding states.

Bichner also warned about fireworks-related ignitions around holidays: prepare hoses and buckets of water, soak spent fireworks overnight and be especially cautious in the three days before and after major holidays. On recreational water safety, department leaders cautioned that fast-moving runoff in streams and creeks can sweep people away and that a single lifeguard can be overwhelmed by 25–30 children in a pool; they urged close supervision.

The briefing was informational outreach; no regulatory changes or budget decisions were announced. Attendees were directed to contact the fire department with questions.