Wildfire activity increases across Northern Utah
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SALT LAKE CITY – Northern Utah has seen an increase in fire activity in the past week. The Bureau of Land Management and its partners are actively engaged in firefighting operations, focusing on a heavy initial attack with the goal of full suppression.
Wildfires caused by last week’s lightning include the Raft River and Goose Creek fires in Box Elder County, and the Cedar Mountain One fire in Tooele County.
In addition to lightning, wildfires are commonly human-caused. The BLM wants to remind the public that fire restrictions are in place:
- Campfires, except in permanently constructed cement or metal fire pits provided in developed campgrounds and picnic areas.
- Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in anarea that is paved, barren, or cleared to mineral soil.
- Cutting, welding, or grinding metal in areas of dry vegetation.
- Use of any tracer or incendiary ammunition of any caliber.
- Possession or use of any kind of explosives, incendiary or chemical devices, pyrotechnics or fireworks, or exploding targets.
- Use of any Sky Lanterns, Chinese Lanterns, Fire Balloons, Acetylene Balloons or similar device.
- Use of any Off Road Vehicle (ORV) that is not equipped with a properly installed and maintained spark arrestor. Spark arresters shall meet the 80 percent efficiency level standard when determined by the appropriate Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) recommended practices J335 and J350. Refer to Title43 CFR §8343.1.
The current wildfires are producing heavy smoke that can be seen across the Wasatch Front. To reduce your exposure to smoke, please consider staying indoors.
To learn about local fires, visit utahfireinfo.gov or https://gacc.nifc.gov/gbcc/. To report a wildfire, please call 911.
For additional information, please contact Jhen Rawling at (801) 977-4300. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to leave a message or question with the above individual. The FRS is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Replies are provided during normal business hours.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.