This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
I and thousands of residents of the Smoky Mountains in east Tennessee would like to thank the "wildfire crew" of the Utah County Sheriff's department for their 20 days of dedicated service fighting our massive fires. I have dear friends who live in Salt Lake City, and when I saw the Utah County logo on that engine, I thought: "To leave their friends and family, at this time of year, and come so far just to help us — our gratitude is immeasurable!"
So thank you guys for every blaze extinguished, for every back-breaking shovelful of smoldering dirt thrown on glowing embers, so they won't reignite. Thank you also to the entire population of Utah county, without whose support the wildfire crew wouldn't exist.
We hope the Christmas season finds you safe and warm and surrounded by those same loving friends and family.
Ed Chabot
Powell, TN