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DEM Statement: The passing of Draper Battalion Chief Matt Burchett
Draper Battalion Chief Matt Burchett, center, conducts a briefing with his task force on August 2, 2018, before deploying to California to support firefighting efforts there.
With the rest of Utah, the Division of Emergency Management is mourning the loss of Draper Battalion Chief Matt Burchett.
An expert wildland firefighter, Matt deployed to California earlier this month to support a state in need. He was a leader of one of the two Utah task forces deployed under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, a system of state-to-state mutual aid.
We are coordinating with California to bring Matt’s body back home to Utah.
Matt was a great emergency management partner at the local level. He was always professional, kind and genuine.
He had the ability to make you feel like you had been friends forever.
We will be forever grateful for Matt. He was doing a noble work and we will miss him.
Contact info: Joe Dougherty, public information officer, Utah Division of Emergency Management
jdougherty@utah.gov, 801-538-3738
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