Traveling east on I-18 to Park City, we personally witnessed the incredible speed and growth of the Parley's Canyon Fire on August 14th, at around 2:20 PM. The plume of smoke was easily 1,500 feet high, but the air was still clear and there was no smell. These hints told us this fire had just started. We learned that the fire started at around 1 PM, and it was caused by an … [Read more...]
Lots of Smoke, A Little Less Fire: More Human Caused Wildfires in Utah Due to COVID-19?
While skies appeared thick with smoke this past summer, and images of flaming landscapes were featured on newscasts, there were not a record number of wildfires last year. When Utah wildfire officials closed the books on the 2020 season that ran from June 1 to November 30, they counted 1,547 total fires that burned 336,364 acres in the state and cost an estimated $60 … [Read more...]
Allowing Wildfires to Burn is Causing Big Problems
The recent trend to allow wildfires to burn across the West to improve forest health is hitting some fierce opposition. It has long been a matter of fire management doctrine that letting some fires burn will improve wildlife habitat, watershed conditions, reduce fuel buildup, and promote species diversity. Prescribed fires are designed with these elements in mind and many … [Read more...]