Before planning trips, check on the Fires in Utah!

[mecsw500]

Before planning trips in Utah check the fire conditions before planning camping, camp fires, and deciding to take roads that are closed due to fires.

Go to wfca.com and move the map to Utah.

Fire risk is currently extreme in most places so please be careful if camping. Humidity is currently extremely low, winds are blowing, and temperatures are high as is normal.

We have wonderful National and State Parks that are amazing to see, but please be ultra careful with campfires etc.

Note, as of yesterday it seems consumer fireworks are banned for the 4th of July because of the fire risk being so extreme.

This risk also applies to parts of CA, CO, AZ, NV, and WY too.

Please don’t hesitate to visit, but please be careful and exercise extreme caution.

 

[Little Blue]

Thanks for your update on the fires. We are having some rain showers in Indiana. Currently too wet for most fires.
But you still need to be cautious about any fires.

Have a Blessed Day and Stay Healthy.

 

[2dogs]

Most of the fires are due to carelessness and or power companies' lack of proper maintenance. Slow response time is also a contributing factor, but we are making progress on that one. Darn, I forgot arson!

 

[mecsw500]

Most of the fires are due to carelessness and or power companies' lack of proper maintenance. Slow response time is also a contributing factor, but we are making progress on that one.

There seems to be a variety of reasons for wildfires in Utah.

One leading man-made cause appears to be campfires in authorized or unauthorized camping locations, or off road vehicles at this time of year. Of course, visitors to the State may be as unaware as locals about the fire risk whilst camping. Apparently cigarettes and arson are much rarer than we think.

Other main causes depends upon the season. Farm equipment in the Spring, hunting camps in the Fall for example.

The leading natural cause is dry lightning. Dry lightning is the most dangerous as it ignites at multiple locations across a wider area than man made fires, accidental or otherwise.

Apparently between 5% and 10% of wildfires are caused by electrical problems, but that includes transformer failures and other related electrical issues, not just power lines and vegetation interaction. This obviously depends upon the location in the State.

The use of satellite imagery to detect potential heat sources has enable faster fire detection through several satellite services the State is subscribed to.

Like you say, early detection has gotten better over the years.

 

[rjinaz86323]

Same for Arizona. Really dry and windy here

 

[CO Rider]

We planned on going through Utah on the Spyder this summer. But naturally, it developed a problem and spent most of my wife's off time in the shop.

 

[mecsw500]

We planned on going through Utah on the Spyder this summer. But naturally, it developed a problem and spent most of my wife's off time in the shop.

That's a shame. We have a great state to visit, but better it was in the shop at home rather than in the middle of nowhere in Southern Utah.

Perhaps next year when half the state isn't on fire.

 

[Little Blue]

Any updates on the Utah Fires? News Media has been somewhat limited on talking about fires because of the Fourth of July.
I guess they don't want people to miss out on the Fireworks.
Just saying about that story!

Anyhow, be safe and stay Healthy.

 

[mecsw500]

Fires are still burning, especially the Iron, Cherry, Wild Goose, and Cottonwood fires. The Cottonwood fire is approaching 100,000 acres. Total fires are at 300,000 acres and climbing fast.

The Cherry fire is worrying as Highway 153 is closed and Toole Army Depot is just to the North, which stores most of the Nation's armaments and chemical weapons precursors. Fires in that region are difficult to fight because of all the unexploded ordnance on the massive live fire test ranges in the West desert.

The governor has issued a state fireworks ban that allow individual cities to override it. Some dumb cities have. Most stores have pulled them from the shelves. Airborne fireworks have always been banned, but people drive to Wyoming to buy them.

A fire out on the UT and CO border claimed the lives of three firefighters and injured two. These fires are incredibly dangerous. People don’t realize their enjoyment of illegal airborne fireworks are going to cost other people their lives and property.

Rocky Mountain Power has started shutting off power to certain counties and to some towns to lower the fire risk. Beaver, Iron, Garfield, Millard, Washington, and San Juan have been affected.

Needles district of Canyonlands NO is now closed due to Babylon Dire.

So is the Salina to Scipio cut between I-70 and I-15 with US 50 being closed due to the Wild Goose fire, forcing long detours.

Air assets have been flying lengthy missions all day, from massive Type 1 planes down to helicopter size. Helicopters have been dropping off and resupplying smoke jumpers everyday.

There was a 5 alarm fire by I-80 on the SLC airport that they now have contained. I-80 was closed for a while. No other route West to Central CA.

Numerous brush fires all over the state, temporarily closing Highways and Interstates whilst being quickly extinguished by local fire departments.

The driest winter on record is coming back to bite us with a very active fire season.