USU launches fall wildfire preparedness series for Utah communities
Free fall webinars cover evacuations, emergency response, insurance and lessons from communities affected by wildfire.
PARK CITY, Utah — Utah State University Extension is hosting a fall webinar series on wildfire preparedness for Utah communities facing persistent wildfire risk.
The five-part “Wildfire Ready Utah” series brings together fire officials, emergency managers, researchers, and insurance experts to discuss evacuation planning, wildfire response, community recovery, and ways homeowners can reduce their risk.
The series began Sept. 23 with a session focused on preparing for fast-moving evacuations, including what residents should do if they have one day, one hour, or just 15 minutes to leave.
Upcoming sessions include an Oct. 6 discussion on how wildfire response works behind the fire line and an Oct. 27 program examining lessons from Western communities that have experienced major fires. Summit County Lands and Natural Resources Director Jessica Kirby is among the speakers scheduled for the Oct. 27 session.
Later webinars will focus on wildfire insurance and the future of fire in Western communities. Utah Insurance Commissioner Jon Pike is scheduled to participate in the Nov. 3 insurance discussion, while USU wildfire, climate and community researchers will close the series Nov. 17.
The program comes after an active Utah fire season. As of early August, USU Extension reported nearly 800 wildfires had burned close to 500,000 acres across the state, with both human-caused and lightning-caused fires contributing to the total.
For residents living near forests, grasslands, and other wildland areas, USU Extension recommends creating defensible space around homes by reducing brush and dry vegetation, clearing roofs and gutters, and limiting combustible materials near structures. Those measures cannot guarantee a home will survive a wildfire, but they can reduce fire intensity near structures and improve conditions for firefighters.
The remaining Wildfire Ready Utah webinars are free, held online, and offer a chance to learn more and prepare.
Visit USU Extension’s Wildfire Ready Utah program for more information and registration.
