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Salt Lake City—The State of Utah is experiencing high temperatures and low humidity, causing elevated wildfire danger. The National Weather Services indicates these conditions will extend throughout the next several weeks and likely into the Fall.  Along with the potential of lightning-caused fires, we are currently experiencing a high number of human-caused fires. 

In order to protect public lands in Utah, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) have multiple Fire Prevention Orders (FPOs) in place, with additional orders to be released before the holiday weekend. The FPOs outline prohibited activities that can start wildfires on public lands in all Utah BLM Districts.

FPOs for the counties of Washington, Iron, Beaver, Kane, Garfield, Sanpete, Sevier, Wayne, Piute, Carbon, Emery, Grand, San Juan, Uintah, Duchesne, and Dagget include bans on:

• Tracer and incendiary ammunition
• Explosives, incendiary devices, chemical devices, pyrotechnics, exploding targets
• Fireworks, sky lanterns, Chinese lanterns, fire balloons, and acetylene balloons
• Cutting, welding, grinding
• Operating a combustion engine without a properly functioning spark arrestor
• Campfires outside of permanently constructed fire pits within developed campgrounds

In addition to the restrictions listed above, the counties of Box Elder, Juab, Millard, Rich, Salt Lake, Tooele and Utah have included bans on:

• Steel Ammunition
• Smoking in vegetation

“After a very wet winter, the grasses are thicker than we have seen in a long time,” said BLM State Fire Management Officer Jessica Wade. “Since the May and June months have been warmer and drier than average, the grasses are more susceptible to ignitions. We are asking the public for help in protecting Utah public lands from wildfire.” 

Public lands provide valuable, tangible goods and materials we rely on and use every day to heat our homes, build our roads, and feed our families. They provide an amazing array of recreational opportunities and connect us to our shared American history and cultural heritage. Please practice good stewardship and take care of your public lands.

For additional information, visit the Utah Fire Info website for county and agency-specific FPOs. Follow @UtahWildfire on Facebook and Twitter for current fire information and daily updates. To report a wildfire or suspicious behavior, call “9-1-1”. Remember, one less spark – one less wildfire. 

For additional information, contact Heather O’Hanlon at (801) 539-4129.  Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1 (800) 877-8339 to leave a message or question with the above individual.  The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  Replies are provided during normal business hours.