ST. GEORGE — Conserve Southwest Utah has announced a virtual Wildfire Prevention Workshop for June 29 at 6 p.m. Special guest Nick Howell, a Bureau of Land Management Fire Mitigation & Education Specialist, will present on current fire restrictions, prevention campaigns, and safety tips, in addition to wildfire ecology and fire cycle.
This workshop comes in response to Washington County’s extreme drought conditions and bleak outlook for the 2022 wildfire season. “Fueling the Flames,” a new report from First Street Foundation completed a 30-year simulation of fires across America and found that southwest Utah is one of the riskiest areas in the country.
Historical fire trends coupled with changing climate conditions, rapid population growth, and a high percentage (93.6%) of structures at risk for fire pose great risk to the health and safety of Washington County residents, public lands, and the tourism economy.
We urge the community to participate in this free Wildfire Prevention Workshop. Visit conserveswu.org/volunteer-calendar/fireprevention/ for details.
Statement from Sarah Thomas-Clayburn, Conserve Southwest Utah’s Community Outreach & Partnerships Coordinator:
“As an advocate for our local natural and cultural resources, Conserve Southwest Utah is committed to avoiding a repeat of the brutal 2020 fire season. Four human-caused wildfires put the safety of Washington County residents on the line and burned nearly 25% of the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area and Desert Reserve. It’s going to take all of us working together to make sure that our favorite public lands, our loved ones, and our homes stay safe this summer. So many of these devastating fires are preventable. This workshop can help us all understand the extreme risk we face and be armed with the knowledge to know when and where to safely and legally set off fireworks, have a campfire, go target shooting, park cars on public lands, etc.”
Through this workshop, Conserve Southwest Utah aims to provide fire prevention outreach to as many Washington County residents as possible, and provide them with strategies for amplifying the wildfire prevention messages in their own neighborhoods and communities.
Statement from Nick Howell, Bureau of Land Management Fire Mitigation & Education Specialist:
“May through August is typically a critical time for southern Utahns as both visitor numbers and fire danger tends to exponentially increase. This year’s outlook is no different,” said Bureau of Land Management Color Country and Paria River Districts Fire Mitigation & Education Specialist Nick Howell. “Predictive services warns that southern Utah’s Energy Release Component (ERC) is approaching critical thresholds. The ERC can serve as a good indicator of what we anticipate a fire season could look like across a designated area, as it tracks seasonal fire danger trends well.”
Background on the 2020 Wildfire Season in Washington County and the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area (NCA):
In 2020, four human-caused fires burned nearly 25% of the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area/Desert Reserve:
- Jul. 13, 2020 Turkey Farm Road Fire, 11,995 acres, caused by illegal firework usage in the Red Cliffs NCA
- Jul. 20, 2020 Cottonwood Trail Fire, 1,623 acres, caused by semi-truck tire blow-out on I-15
- Oct. 3, 2020 Lava Ridge Fire, 348 acres, exact cause unknown, potential vehicle crash with utility pole
- Nov. 6, 2020 Snow Canyon Fire, 799 acres, caused by illegal target shooting near the Red Cliffs NCA
These human-caused fires spread from Red Cliffs into nearby communities, causing hundreds to evacuate from Green Springs, Harrisburg, Angel Heights, and Leeds. They jeopardized human safety and impacted taxpayers. Fire suppression costs totalled more than $2.5 million for the Turkey Farm Road Fire alone. Easily jumping roads and interstates, these fires wiped out stunning viewsheds, created terrible air quality, destroyed critical habitat for threatened wildlife species, and put human safety on the line.
Helpful Fire Prevention Resources
St. George City Fireworks Information – St. George (sgcity.org)
St. George City Fireworks Restriction Map – Fireworks Restrictions (sgcity.org)
St. George City Approved Parks for Personal Firework Use – Approved parks for fireworks (sgcity.org)
Utah Fire Active Fire Restriction Documents – Active Fire Restriction Documents (utahfireinfo.gov)
Background on Conserve Southwest Utah:
Conserve Southwest Utah (CSU) is a non-profit organization working to conserve Southwest Utah’s natural and cultural resources and advocating implementation of the Smart Growth principles that enables conservation for the benefit of present and future generations. Since 2018, CSU members have donated more than 1,000 volunteer hours valued at $27,000 to restoring wildfire damage in habitat restoration plots in the Red Cliffs NCA. To learn more, to volunteer, or to donate, visit conserveswu.org.