ST. GEORGE — The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning that will be in effect through the weekend and into the night of the Fourth of July. And southwest fire managers have expanded fire restrictions to include Beaver County.
The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect from noon Saturday through 9 p.m. Monday. The affected area includes large swaths of land throughout Washington, Iron and Beaver counties.
South winds 15-25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph were forecasted for Saturday afternoon through evening, and then south winds 20-30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph Sunday and Monday afternoon through evening. Winds are expected to decrease in the overnight periods. Relative humidity is expected to be in the 8-12% range, with poor overnight recoveries of 20-30%.
Critical fire weather conditions are likely to occur. Any new fire starts or existing fires may spread rapidly.
Precautions and preparedness
If you are traveling or planning to recreate using ATVs or similar vehicles, take the following precautions to avoid starting a wildfire:
- Avoid driving or parking your vehicle in tall grass.
- Never throw a lighted cigarette out of a vehicle.
- When pulling a trailer, attach safety chains securely; loose chains can drag on the pavement and cause sparks, igniting roadside fires.
- Look behind you before driving away from fire-sensitive locations such as areas with tall grass or campsites to check for signs of a developing fire.
- Always use a spark arrester on internal combustion engines.
Fire restrictions expand
Those planning to recreate in Beaver County this weekend should be aware of additional fire restrictions that went into effect early Friday morning.
According to a press release issued by the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, Color Country Interagency Fire managers have expanded Stage 1 fire restrictions to include Beaver County, which began Friday at 12:01 a.m. on all unincorporated county, state and federally administered public lands in the following Utah counties: Washington, Kane, Garfield, Iron and Beaver (excluding Fishlake National Forest, Beaver Ranger District).
“In consultation with our federal partners and the Beaver County Commission, we are taking additional fire prevention measures by implementing fire restrictions in Beaver County,” Mike Melton, a fire management officer in southwest Utah, said in the news release. “The current monsoonal surge is predicted to turn to hotter and drier conditions starting the first part of July. Our goal is to reduce human caused fires by using the tools available to us.”
While fire restrictions are in effect, the following acts are prohibited:
- No campfires or open fires outside of agency improved and maintained campgrounds and home sites in southwest Utah. Running water is required on cabins or homesites on unincorporated private land. Devices fueled by liquid petroleum are allowed.
- No discharging of fireworks or other pyrotechnic devices outside of incorporated city limits (city-specific restrictions may apply).
- No shooting of exploding targets or tracer ammunition.
- No cutting, grinding, or welding of metal in areas of dry vegetation. This includes acetylene torches.
- No use of equipment without a working and properly maintained spark arrestor (if required).
- No smoking near vegetation or outside of a developed recreation site, personal vehicle or building.
- No campfires are allowed in Zion National Park, including Lava Point.
- Campfires are allowed at Glen Canyon in established campgrounds within established rings and below the water line only, in areas completely void of vegetation.
Citizens should be aware that fire restrictions will be slightly different among agencies and these restrictions do not apply to incorporated cities. Check the specific fire restrictions with the respective land management agency before visiting.
Additionally, slightly drier conditions and increased fire activity in northern Arizona caused the Arizona Strip to implement campfire and smoking restrictions on May 5. For more information on northern Arizona fire restrictions, visit this website.
Local, state, and federal fire officials urge Utahns to use their ‘Fire Sense’ to help prevent unwanted wildfires. ‘Fire Sense’ is an interagency fire awareness campaign that was implemented last year to increase public knowledge on how to prevent wildland fires.
For more information on preventing unwanted human caused wildfires, agency-specific restrictions, and reference maps, visit this website or follow the state fire division on Twitter.