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Emery County fire warden warns of early, dry fire season; outlines helicopter resources, online burn permits and WUI changes
Summary
Jerry George, Emery County fire warden, told the Board of County Commissioners on June 17 that cured valley grasses, low humidity and forecast high winds have pushed the county toward an earlier and drier fire season and that a state law change could require new county enforcement of WUI rules.
Jerry George, Emery County fire warden, told the Board of County Commissioners on June 17 that this year’s spring weather has left valley grasses cured and ready to burn and that the region may see monsoonal moisture earlier than in recent years.
“Right now it’s just pretty dry out there,” George said. He told commissioners the weather-service predictive outlook showed cured grass in valley bottoms and “flashy” fine fuels that can carry fire quickly, and that forecasts had pushed monsoon moisture forward toward late June or early July.
The fire warden said Utah Forestry, Fire & State Lands has placed three helicopters on exclusive-use contract for initial attack and that the aircraft have helped the division limit fire spread by hitting initial ignitions hard and fast. He said the larger helicopters are in the fourth year of a five-year contract and a smaller helicopter has been added under a separate multi-year agreement.
George also describe…
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