Utah fire officials hold firefighting resources in-state due to ‘hot and dry’ conditions, potential dry lightning

Fire crews battle the Sandhurst Fire. Photo: Salt Lake City Police Department

'We feel is it necessary to prioritize our resources to protect communities within Utah,' said Brett Ostler, state fire management officer for for the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands

UTAH — Utah’s primary wildland fire management agencies have decided to keep the state’s firefighting resources close to home due to forecasted hot and dry conditions, and a significant increase in lightning activity.

Great Basin Coordination Center (GBCC) Predictive Services staff have forecasted that storm systems could potentially impact Utah over the weekend, bringing an elevated chance for dry lightning, increasing the fire danger in the state.

“Given the weather predictions, the primary wildland fire management agencies are working to balance the need for firefighting resources within Utah with the ongoing needs of our neighboring states with significant fire activity,” said a press release from Utah Interagency Fire. “It is critical we maintain adequate firefighters to suppress fires that may impact our communities.”

The GBCC issued a Fuel and Fire Behavior Advisory due to extreme fire conditions throughout the state, which will be in effect until Aug. 8. According to the advisory, the following conditions are either currently being experienced, or are expected in the near future:

• Above normal fine fuel loading and continuity across northwest Utah.
• Critical live fuel moisture values with grass and brush-type fuels available for ignition.
• Live and dead fuel moisture above the 90th-95th percentile.
• 100 and 1000-hr time lag fuels are at historical lows and seeing complete consumption.
• Extended weather forecasts call for a return of hot and dry conditions to much of Utah.
• This increase in fire behavior raises concerns for firefighters and public safety. It is anticipated that fuels such as sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, gamble oak and mixed conifer can ignite easily and exhibit advanced rates of spread.

Utah has had 706 fires so far in 2024, which have burned over 43,000 acres throughout the state.