SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Aug. 3, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — Utah Interagency Fire announced Saturday that fire officials have decided to keep Utah firefighting resources in Utah, at least for the time being.
Utah has shared crews and resources with neighboring states, but officials say the current need in Utah is too great.
“The next week’s fire weather forecast is predicting continued hot and dry conditions as well as a significant increase in lightning activity across Utah,” the Utah Interagency Fire news release says.
“Given the weather predictions, the primary wildland fire management agencies are working to balance the need for firefighting resources within Utah with the ongoing needs of our neighboring states with significant fire activity. It is critical we maintain adequate firefighters to suppress fires that may impact our communities.”
The statement does not specify whether Utah fire crews currently on loan will be recalled.
State Forester Jamie Barnes, Bureau of Land Management State Director Greg Sheehan, and USDA Forest Service Intermountain Regional Forester Mary Farnsworth, along with the Agencies’ Fire Directors, are directly engaged in critical resource allocation strategies.
“Utah has been experiencing hot and dry conditions this summer,” said Brett Ostler, State Fire Management Officer for the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands.
“These conditions have increased the fire risk in the state, and we feel it is necessary to prioritize our resources to protect communities within Utah.”
Predictive Services staff with the Great Basin Coordination Center (GBCC) have forecasted the potential for storm systems to impact Utah over the weekend. With these storms comes an increased chance for dry lightning, increasing the fire danger in the state.
The GBCC has issued a Fuel and Fire Behavior Advisory due to the conditions within the state that support very active to extreme fire behavior. The advisory states that the following conditions are being or will be experienced and/or observed:
- Above normal fine fuel loading and continuity across northwest Utah.
- Critical live fuel moisture values with grass and brush-type fuels available for ignition.
- Live and dead fuel moisture above the 90th-95th percentile.
- 100 and 1000-hr time lag fuels are at historical lows and seeing complete consumption.
- Extended weather forecasts call for a return of hot and dry conditions to much of Utah.
This increase in fire behavior raises concerns for firefighters and public safety. It is anticipated that fuels such as sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, gamble oak and mixed conifer can ignite easily and exhibit advanced rates of spread.
This year, Utah has seen large fires started by lightning. Most notable is the Silver King Fire, which has burned over 18,000 acres and was started at the beginning of July.
