Fire safety

Multiple wildfires are burning across Utah. Beyond destruction of land and property, researchers say there can be serious impacts on mental health, too.

With nearly 150,000 acres burned so far this year, fire officials say this season is something they have never seen before.

Utah’s extremely active wildfires have the state on edge. State law limits where cities can ban fireworks, but some towns say they fit entirely within the exceptions.

Residents in one of Utah’s fastest-growing cities worry about getting trapped in traffic if there’s a large-scale wildfire evacuation this summer. But the fire chief said Saratoga Springs is prepared.

Utah’s record warm, dry winter has created a recipe for bad summer wildfires. But Dammeron Valley residents have prepared for years for a drought-stricken season like this.

Pay attention to restricted dates and locations, keep a hose at the ready and leave alcohol out of the mix, says the state fire marshal.

With lots of new growth and a hot dry summer ahead, Utah fire departments are working to mitigate fire risk, and helping people prepare in case of an emergency evacuation.

Besides fire risks and a bump in fire department calls, the air quality on the Wasatch Front also takes a hit over the holiday.

“With it being so dry and with the fuels just ready to go, we're pretty much issuing red flag warnings almost every day at this point,” said Mark Miller, a National Weather service meteorologist who forecasts for southeast Utah.

Emergency personnel in Southwest Utah are already battling frequent fires as the extra grass and brush that grew during the wet spring are providing more fire fuel as they dry out.

Bigger populations don’t always translate into bigger tax bases for cities, so investments like new fire stations and equipment are a balancing act.

“[The drought’s] probably not going to go away in one year, but we are in a better situation than we were this time last year,” said a state coordinator.