Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — Firefighters are reminding Utahns that fire danger this summer is the highest it has been in awhile, and urging them to use caution.
Of the more than 100 wildfires started this year, about 90 percent of them have been human-caused. The growth from last year's rains and snowstorms have since dried out, leaving them susceptible to catching flame and burning quick.
"This fire season, we started out with a ready, set, go program," said Salt Lake City Fire Department Capt. Brett James.
At station four in Salt Lake City, firefighters have already started warning homeowners along the foothills of the Avenues to be cautious and take precautions, informing those who live in the wildland and urban interface areas of things they can to protect their homes.
As much of the Wasatch Front faces these conditions, firefighters are hoping homeowners will be proactive. That can include clearing shrubbery and long grasses away from homes, and having a plan of action in the event of a fire.
Firefighters in Sandy are also seeing the dangerously dry brush. Signs are already posted warning people of fines for using illegal fireworks. Still, firefighters say even the legal fireworks can be dangerous enough.
For the first time in five years, statewide fire restrictions are now in effect in all state and federal lands. Smoking, fires, and fireworks are off-limits in all of those wilderness areas. There is an exception for those statewide restrictions for enclosed areas and developed recreation sites.
Some counties are still trying to determine how that will affect them. Salt Lake County Unified Fire for example will meet tomorrow morning to look over their affected areas.
