Wildfires

Thanks to wet weather and prevention efforts, Utah’s had fewer fires this year than any other year since at least 2002.

A new program targets people who are at higher risk of health complications from wildfire smoke.

Farmers and ranchers in the West are being pressured by rising production costs, increased workloads and extreme weather. No wonder they face higher levels of stress and mental health issues than other Americans.

Supply drives like the Maui Relief Drive put on by Utah Valley University's Pacific Islander Initiative and the Ogden Police Department’s food and clothing drive have been swamped with community support.

Safety and entertainment value is motivating Utah cities and towns to opt for drone light shows over traditional fireworks. Except in American Fork, which wants both.

“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.

Officials in Salt Lake City are replacing their traditional explosive extravaganza with a drone light show. Flagstaff, Arizona, plans another laser light show like the one that replaced fireworks last year.

Federal land managers have fallen behind on several of their priority forests in a multi-billion dollar thinning campaign aimed at dead trees and undergrowth.

Many current and former wildland firefighters ask themselves this question: What does all this smoke, dust and ash I’ve been breathing for months on end mean for my health?

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.

New research shows that the long-term trend of warmer winters and less snow has made Utah’s streamflow more sporadic. And researchers say Utahns should prepare for it to keep getting worse.

“A lot can change between now and the heart of summer,” said Jon Meyer, the assistant state climatologist at the Utah Climate Center.