'Light the Night' event honors fallen firefighters

RIVERTON, Utah — The lights outside Unified Fire Station 124 are shining red this week.

A solemn vigil called "Light the Night" was held Monday.

The event is part of National Fallen Firefighters Week.

The ceremony began with a bagpipe solo followed by a bell salute. Then, the lights were turned on to illuminate the outside walls of the building in red.

Last year, 119 firefighters across the nation lost their lives in the line of duty.

In 2018, Draper Battalion Chief Matthew Burchett died while on assignment at a wildfire in California.

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This week honors those who died while serving and also sends a message to the loved ones left behind that their sacrifice will not be forgotten.

“Within the fire department, we always say it’s a big family. A brotherhood, a sisterhood,” said Patrick Costin of Unified Fire Authority. “Whether you’re a firefighter from Utah, back east, down south, Florida, we all do the same job. We have the exact same purpose. It doesn’t matter if a firefighter dies back east or on the west coast, you feel it.”

The lights outside the station will remain red for the entire week.