WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) West Desert District has seen an increase in human-caused wildfires this year with 21 human-caused fires, making up 75% of the district’s wildfires. For comparison, in 2019, 45% of the wildfires in the BLM West Desert District were human caused.
This year’s 30% increase in human-caused fires is concerning for fire officials and land managers. An increase in human-caused fires has been witnessed across all suppression agencies in northern Utah, where 154 of the 170 wildfires this year have been human-caused.
“The BLM is working with agency partners to share information about fire prevention, yet our district and northern Utah’s statistics continue to show a drastic rise in human-caused fires," said BLM West Desert District Fire Management Officer Geoff Wallin. “We are urging the public to be fire-aware when visiting public lands and to do everything possible to help prevent a wildfire."
The BLM West Desert District is home to approximately 86% of Utah’s population and many communities are impacted by this wildland-urban interface during wildfire season. Wallin recommends that public land visitors remain aware of their surroundings and are diligent in their activities to help prevent a fire.
To prevent a wildfire, the public should:
* Fully extinguish campfires and avoid building fires when winds are 15 mph or higher
* Choose a target shooting backstop free of rocks and dry grass - any bullet hitting rocks can create a spark
* Follow the Fire Prevention Order that prohibits the use of steel-core and tipped ammunition between June 15 and Sept. 30, and also prohibits the use of fireworks, paper lanterns, exploding targets, and other incendiary devices year-round on BLM-managed lands. Avoid welding over dry grass and other vegetation
* Avoid cutting, welding, or grinding of metal in areas of dry vegetation
* Check to make sure trailer chains are not dragging and are secure to prevent sparking
* Fully extinguish and properly dispose of cigarettes
* Avoid parking a hot vehicle over dry grass
Dry conditions due to a lack of precipitation this spring, above normal temperatures, and mats of unburnt fuel from last year are resulting in an above-normal fire potential. Utah fire season experts have posted a seasonal outlook for July - October 2020 which warns of drought conditions through the remainder of the month and drying out of heavier fuels.
Public land visitors are also reminded to be prepared with a shovel, water, and fire extinguisher. State-wide fire restrictions and prevention orders can be viewed at: https://utahfireinfo.gov/active-fire-restriction-documents/.
For additional information, please contact the BLM West Desert District Office, 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.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management
