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SALT LAKE CITY — Resources are strained and firefighters are working around the clock in some very difficult conditions statewide.
Firefighters quell one fire and are required to fight another. Many crews who finished containing the Dump Fire in Saratoga Springs are already arriving in Sanpete County to fight the Wood Hollow Fire.
They're exhausted but they're still sort of pacing themselves, since they say it's not likely to let up anytime soon. The fire base camp at North Sanpete Middle School is prepared for what could be the long haul, with supplies ready to be utilized.
"If we run out of hours that we can work, they'll bring out another type two team, or if it gets too much worse, it will go into a Type 1 team," said Incident Command Team Dorothy Harvey. "But someone will be fighting this fire until its out."
Crews are expected to commit to 14-day assignments, with each day shift lasting up to 16 hours. Resources from Idaho, Nevada and even Canada have been assigned to the Wood Hollow Fire.
Rich County Fire Warden Dan Ames is in charge of a Northern Utah-based strike team that will work mostly at night. He just came down from another large fire in Utah County. He says there's little doubt firefighting resources will be stretched to the limit this summer.
Someone will be fighting this fire until its out.
–Dorothy Harvey
"It's already a bit of a strain," Ames said. "A lot of us are national resources, some of us are in Colorado and other parts of the country."
The type of incident-command team determines how many resources can be prioritized to one fire. Right now, about 500 fire personnel are fighting the blaze and the conditions are making that task a difficult one.
"Personally, I have never seen it this dry this early," Ames said. "They're just ready to go right now. The least little spark, and they ignite and run."
Dry lighting is expected sometime Monday, which could spark newer fires nearby. Officials say there is twice as much fuel as last year to burn.
