Wildfires

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.

After a wildfire, native plants and wildlife are often crowded out by invasive species, and rivers and streams can take years to recover. A collaboration between federal agencies and conservation groups in Nevada's Virgin River watershed, however, points to early signs of recovery.

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.

With record-low snow this winter, Utah trees and grasses are drying out early. That could set up the state’s forests and communities for a long, dangerous wildfire year.

The Trump administration wants to do away with the Roadless Area Conservation Rule. Established in 2001, it stopped road construction and logging on national forest lands — including four million acres in Utah.

The Northern Utah Type 3 Incident Management Team has reported 22 drones flying into temporary flight restricted areas around the Buckley Draw fire near Provo. They say that’s a record — and a dangerous one.

Deer, elk and fish face food scarcity, death and poor water quality after a wildfire has burned its course.

The initial power outage last week, caused by the Monroe Canyon fire, lasted for 30 hours. Garkane Energy Cooperative Incorporated will start more permanent repairs to power lines Aug. 6.

The Monroe Canyon fire has burned 75 square miles, and the wind-whipped fire along the Grand Canyon has become a "megafire." Both are burning so hot that they are spurring the formation of "fire clouds."

Gov. Spencer Cox wants Utahns to celebrate Pioneer Day responsibly, “especially when it comes to fireworks with the drought that we're having and the fire danger that is out there,” he said.

At Grand Canyon National Park, a lightning-sparked fire that started July 4 highlighted the challenges of using fire to benefit the landscape. The wind-whipped flames ended up consuming a historic lodge and dozens of other structures.

Rob Sowby, a civil engineering professor at Brigham Young University published research earlier this year on the role of public water systems in firefighting.