How A Firefighter Became A Suspect In Utah Wildfires

🔥 Utah’s Accidental Tradition: Firefighters Who… Start Fires?

Utah has a lot of things going for it: Summer fairs and rodeos, great hikes, and a population that treats emergency preparedness like a competitive sport. But every now and then, something happens that makes the whole state collectively squint and say, “Wait… what?”

Get our free mobile app

Enter: the Stockton‑area former firefighter arrested for allegedly lighting multiple wildfires like he was trying to unlock a new level in Arson Simulator 2026.

When I was a firefighter, our fire detective straight‑up told us, “Statistically, you are the most likely person to become an arsonist.” Excuse me? I signed up to fight the fires, not develop a complicated emotional relationship with them.

🔥 Facts of the Case

Devone West, was arrested after investigators linked him to multiple deliberately set fires in the Stockton and Lake Point areas. Deputies say surveillance footage, witness reports, and license‑plate reader data placed him at several ignition points despite his denials.

It turns out West has previously served prison time for arson. He reportedly told officers it was “strike three” as he was taken into custody. He now faces multiple arson charges.

🔥 Why Utah? Why firefighters? Why is this a thing?

Here is just a theory as to why this might ever happen: Utah firefighters get bored.
Half the year they’re shoveling snow off hydrants. The other half we’re responding to calls like: “My neighbor’s goat is stuck in a trampoline.” or “My husband swallowed a bee.”

So when a heat wave hits and the brush gets crispy, maybe some folks get… ideas. Terrible, felony‑level ideas.

🔥 Utah’s Firefighter Opinion After All This

We love our firefighters. Ninety‑nine percent of them are absolute heroes. But every once in a while, Utah gets a rogue one who treats wildfire season like a personal side quest.

So what do we do?

We laugh (because otherwise we’d cry), we stay alert, and we keep our Ring cameras charged.