Sandy couple's wildfire mitigation efforts pay off when flames threaten backyard

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• A Sandy couple's wildfire mitigation efforts protected their home from nearby flames.
• Brian and Christy removed dry grass and created a buffer zone for safety.

SANDY — Years of preparation helped one Sandy couple protect their home after a fire broke out just steps from their backyard.

Brian and Christy, who asked that their last name not be used, said they saw smoke and flames near their property and immediately called 911.

"I saw some smoke, and I ran to the window — and I literally saw flames," Christy said. "I called 911 immediately."

Emergency responders arrived within minutes. Christy said dispatchers quickly recognized the urgency of the situation.

"I was told the fact that I said 'flames' changed the story," she said. "The reaction I got was, 'You need to leave your house immediately.'"

The close call comes as fire officials warn that hot, dry conditions across Utah are increasing wildfire risks.

Sandy Fire Chief Ryan McConaghie said homeowners can significantly reduce danger by clearing dry vegetation and maintaining defensible space around their property.

"The biggest thing is just to start," McConaghie said. "If you have a larger property, it can feel overwhelming — but regardless of the project size, the most important thing is to begin."

Brian and Christy said they spent the past three years working to reduce fuel around their home, balancing limited financial resources with time-intensive labor.

"Obviously, we're cost-conscious — that's the trade-off, time and money," Brian said. "Our budget wasn't quite there, so I invested my time."

Those efforts included removing dry grass, clearing deadfall and creating a buffer zone designed to slow or stop the spread of fire.

Fire officials say those steps can make a critical difference — not only in protecting homes but also in helping crews respond more effectively.

"Any help that we can receive from residents — creating defensible space and cutting down dry grasses and deadfall — is helpful to us," McConaghie said.

Officials encourage residents to prepare before emergencies happen. A "Ready, Set, Go" wildfire preparedness guide is available online with steps homeowners can take to reduce risk and plan evacuation if needed.

The guide can be found here.

The Key Takeaways for this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by our editorial team. The article, itself, is solely human-written.

Related topics

Utah wildfiresUtahSalt Lake CountyPolice & CourtsFamily
Annette Campbell