‘Only you can prevent …’: Weber Fire official calls for vigilance, safe habits as wildfire risk rises
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- The Uintah fire burns through residential areas near the mouth of Weber Canyon on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2017. Strong winds drove the grass fire into surrounding neighborhoods were it destroyed homes and forced residents to evacuate.
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- A fire burns near the mouth of Ogden Canyon early Sunday, May 31, 2020.
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- The Tunnel Hollow Fire near Morgan burns in a draw above Interstate 84 on Tuesday, July 22, 2014.
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- In this June 23, 2017, file photo, a wildfire continues to grow in Brian Head. Utah prosecutors have charged a man accused of accidentally sparking a massive wildfire that forced some 1,500 people from their homes and cost about $34 million to fight.
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- Fire above Mountain Road in North Ogden on Tuesday, July 14, 2020.
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- A fire burned near the mouth of Ogden Canyon early Sunday, May 31, 2020.
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- Fire above Mountain Road in North Ogden on Tuesday, July 14, 2020.
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- An “Orem City Fireworks Restriction” sign is shown Tuesday, June 22, 2021, in Orem.
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- In this Friday, June 22, 2012, file photo, emergency responders work on a wild land fire that is threatening homes in Saratoga Springs.
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- Fire rages in Huntington Canyon near Stuart Guard Station at the Manti-la Sal National Forest in Utah on Wednesday, June 27, 2012.
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- A firefighter sets spot training fires during Utah Wildfire Academy near Rush Valley west of Tooele on May 16, 2003.
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- Paradise firefighters Dave Bigelow, left, and Casey Snider work to put out a wildfire in Blacksmith Fork Canyon, near Hyrum, on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2013.
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- A wildfire on Traverse Mountain threatens homes June 28, 2020, in Lehi. Officials said fireworks caused the wildfire.
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- Crews work on the East Canyon fire, which had burned at least 830 acres between East Canyon Reservoir and Morgan as of Wednesday, June 9, 2021.
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- A fire burns near the mouth of Ogden Canyon early Sunday, May 31, 2020.
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- Crews battle the Avon Fire in Ogden Valley on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018. The wildfire started on the north end of the valley and burned in the hills above Liberty and Eden.
OGDEN — As June moves swiftly toward July and temperatures hover around the triple-digit range in Weber County and throughout Utah, fire departments have already contended with grass and brush fires and other incidents intensified by prolonged heat, dry conditions and other seasonal factors.
In an effort to minimize fire risk, officials are reminding residents to prepare and stay vigilant.
Weber Fire District Fire Warden Rick Cooper told the Standard-Examiner that wildfire risk assessments begin in the spring, as early as March.
“We kind of get an idea of what our fire season is going to look like based on our fall, winter and spring precipitation,” Cooper said, adding that fuel moisture levels in vegetation such as sagebrush and oak are also tracked. “We compile all that information and we send it off to scientists who give us predictive services.”
According to Cooper, northern Utah received near-average snowpack this past winter but saw a deficit in spring rainfall, along with slightly higher-than-normal temperatures. Given those early indicators, current conditions and predictive modeling, Cooper describes the current outlook as an ‘average’ fire season locally.
“With that being said, it doesn’t necessarily mean that we don’t have large catastrophic fires,” Cooper said. “In 2017, the Uintah fire, that was in an average fire season. We burnt three homes down, evacuated 900 people and almost 800 acres burned. So, even with an average fire season, we really need to be up on our guard. … Even in average years, we can still have lots of acreages burned.”
One risk factor area departments are currently contending with is the increased spread of cottonwood seeds, which played a significant role in the spread of the blaze at West Haven’s Prevedel Park earlier this month.
“Cotton trees are just like gasoline,” Cooper said. “The slightest spark, the slightest flame to it, it really takes off very, very quickly; very fast. Even with the fire crews, we have a hard time catching it because the cotton catches on fire and pulls in the air and lands somewhere else.”
Outside of that incident, Cooper said that the grass fires his department has dealt with have been relatively small and were well contained. However, as summer wears on and fuel sources dry out, there will be more opportunity for fires to spark, grow and cause greater damage.
“I’ve been on grass fires that were started by a weed eater and a lawnmower,” Cooper said. “The very first grass fire we had this year was back in mid-March, and it was caused by a lawnmower.”
The ways in which fires begin are varied, according to Cooper. Lawnmowers, weed eaters and grinders, in addition to vehicle tow chains, brakes and carbon from catalytic converters all have the potential to ignite fires. As such, residents are advised to properly operate and maintain their various machines and vehicles.
Fires can also be sparked by lightning strikes, power lines and gun fire. With the Independence Day and Pioneer Day holidays drawing nearer, Cooper said that restrictions on fireworks are also being considered and best practices are always advised due to the associated fire risk.
“We really encourage people, if you’re in a non-restricted area, don’t light fireworks in grass,” he said. “We encourage people to have like a five-gallon bucket full of water; put your fireworks inside that bucket and soak them. … Over the years, we’ve had multiple house fires caused by fireworks thrown in a garbage still hot.”
Other tips include keeping all-terrain and utility task vehicles out of the brush and on paved or gravel roads, keeping watch over and properly extinguishing camp fires and refraining from firing guns at objects like rocks. Cooper also noted that keeping yards free of debris and dead vegetation and creating defensible space around properties can help reduce the spread of fires.
Local fire departments and other agencies can also help residents identify risk factors and take the proper precautions.
“If the general public has questions on what they can do to mitigate issues, that’s what the fire departments are for. We’re here to help,” he said. “You can contact the local fire department, U.S. Forest Service or (the Bureau of Land Management),” Cooper said. “Recreate responsibly. Just be safe out there — enjoy it, have fun. … Watch for restrictions as well.”
Cooper added that the open burn window has closed and that parties responsible for starting fires could be held liable for suppression costs.
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