Fighting Wildfires is a 'Delicate Balance'

Harold Rice (BS ’16, MS ’19) has tremendous respect for the wildland firefighters who put their lives at risk to contain active wildfires, particularly in the West.

For two months over the summer, Rice took on that physically demanding job as part of a helitack, or helicopter, crew that was stationed in Moab, Utah. He often worked 16-hour days suppressing fires in southeastern Utah and western Colorado.

Some fires were short—burning for one or two days—while others lasted for several weeks or longer. Rice didn’t know what type of wildfire situation he would encounter until he and his crew arrived on the scene.