HUTCHINSON, Kan. – The Hutchinson Fire Department is once again supporting wildland fire operations beyond our community.
Today, Brush 71 and three Hutchinson firefighters are deploying to Northern California to assist with the ongoing wildland fire response. At the time of their departure, the crew has not been assigned to a specific incident. However, that assignment could change at any time as fire activity continues to be extremely active across the region.
The 2026 wildland fire season has already been exceptionally demanding. More acres have burned this year than during all of 2025, and we are only in August. With the typical wildland fire season continuing into October, firefighters and wildland resources across the country are expected to remain heavily committed in the months ahead.
The wildland community has been actively responding to incidents and supporting deployments since early May. These assignments require significant dedication from our firefighters, who spend extended periods away from their families and their home communities while working in challenging and often unpredictable conditions.
Please keep our Brush 71 crew, all wildland firefighters, and the families who support them in your thoughts and prayers as they continue their work throughout this very demanding fire season.
