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Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Utah fire conditions could be a mixed bag this summer. Here's how you can prepare
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways A storm that dumped rain and snow across Utah over the past few days has been beneficial for the drought-heavy state. As of noon, several communities had already received over 0.5 inches since Sunday. Alpine, Cedar City, Richfield, Santaquin, and Enterprise, in Washington County, all received over an inch of rain, while nearly 2 inches had dumped in Cove Fort, in Cache County. The storm also overperformed in the mountains, delivering several inches of snow in the upper Cottonwood canyons. While that's great for current wildfire conditions, things can change fairly quickly, warns Taiga Rohrer, deputy state fire management officer of the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands. 'It takes very little time for those fuels to dry out,' he said, pointing to invasive cheatgrass as an example of where conditions can change in days. That's why he and other experts are advising residents to take steps now to prevent wildfires and their potential impacts, instead of waiting until fire conditions worsen. May is National Wildfire Awareness Month, and Rocky Mountain Power recognized the designation Tuesday by bringing in state and local experts to discuss wildfire preparedness and this summer's unique fire outlook. Utah's fire forecast Nearly three-quarters of the state remained in drought to start this month, including almost half in severe or extreme drought categories, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Despite Utah's drought situation, 'normal' fire potential is expected to remain in place throughout the state this month, according to the wildland fire potential outlook that the National Interagency Fire Center's Predictive Services updated last week. The report states that early May precipitation is helping to keep conditions 'moderate,' but expected 'prolonged' dry periods and winds can pose 'brief localized wildfire risk' over the next few weeks. Forecasters wrote that wildfire fuels in southern Utah 'will dry quickly by late May and June' unless this month's storms produce precipitation that is 'well above normal.' So far, so good on that front. Although temperatures are forecast to reach the upper 80s along the Wasatch Front by the end of this week, long-range outlooks favor cooler and wetter weather returning by about mid-May. But all it takes is a shift to 'continually hot, dry, windy weather' for conditions to worsen, Rohrer cautioned, which is what long-range models currently project could begin by the start of meteorological summer. Above-average fire potential is projected to return to southern Utah by June and potentially last through July across south-central Utah, but the region's fortunes could change sometime during the month. These maps, updated last week, show projected wildland fire potential over the next four months. Potential could increase to above-normal in parts of southern Utah in June and July before returning to normal in August. | National Interagency Fire Center Predictive Services Utah has some of the highest probabilities for above-normal temperatures this summer, but central and southern regions are listed as having 'equal chances' when it comes to precipitation, according to preliminary meteorological summer outlooks released by the National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center. The latter means that there's no clear signal yet whether conditions will be wetter, drier or near-normal between June 1 and Aug. 31. Slightly higher odds for drier-than-normal conditions are expected across northern Utah. Longer-range models indicate stronger monsoon odds toward the end of summer, which could reach all parts of the state. Based on that probability, all of Utah is listed as returning to 'normal' wildfire potential by the end of meteorological summer. However, experts point out that these are still probabilities, so Utahns should prepare for any situation. They add that normal fire conditions can be burdensome for firefighters. 'A normal fire season is still normally very active,' Rohrer said. 'Fires can still occur.' What you can do to prepare The best way to prepare for wildfire season is to create a defensible space outside of your home, state officials say. Clearing leaves and other debris off roofs and gutters and taking other home improvement steps to prevent embers from catching on fire is also important, as embers can engulf a home even if flames don't reach your front door. As for new fire starts, Utah Fire Sense has plenty of tips. These include: Properly douse campfires so they're cold to the touch before you leave a campsite. Avoid driving over dry vegetation and prevent any chains from dragging. Don't place shooting targets next to or in front of rock backstops or near dry vegetation. Meanwhile, power companies are also taking steps, especially as power-related fire starts have led to some of the largest fires in the West in recent memory. Some lawsuits claim that downed lines could have started some of California's devastating wildfires earlier this year. Rocky Mountain Power has a three-member meteorology team that analyzes hundreds of weather stations and active vegetation conditions within its service area, offering daily outlooks for crews to prepare for any given day. The team also uses a program to project how active wildfires will move, helping prepare for potential utility impacts. Scott Jensen, senior meteorologist for Rocky Mountain Power, shows how the power utility company projects weather to prepare for potential impacts during a presentation at the company's Salt Lake City headquarters on Tuesday. | Carter Williams, Red flag conditions, in which strong winds mixed with low relative humidity and hot temperatures, can prompt the company to take proactive measures, said Allen Berreth, vice president of operations for Utah's largest power provider. These include using 'enhanced safety settings' to 'deenergize' power lines when there's any indication that weather or other factors could create problems. The company might also shut off power lines when red flag conditions emerge during a dry period or if wildfire models project that flames are headed to power equipment. It reduces fire risk, but it could also lead to more power outages. 'We don't take that decision lightly,' Berreth said. Rocky Mountain Power officials say they plan to reach out to customers more directly when these decisions are made, so they recommend that they update their contact information. They add that people should have an emergency plan and an emergency kit in case of a wildfire.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Scranton superintendent outlines steps taken by district in response to new immigration laws
SCRANTON — Scranton School District administrators are developing plans if federal immigration officials visit district schools and want to keep the community informed of the changes in the law. Administrators met last week to discuss protocols the district has put in place if a federal agency or entity were to visit a school, Superintendent Erin Keating, Ed.D. said at Monday's vendor relations committee meeting, and how the situation would be handled. They also discussed the changes in the law around immigration with guidance counselors, social workers and English as a second language teachers. 'We will continue to hold such meetings to update people on a regular basis,' she said. The changes are in response to actions taken by President Donald Trump in his first week in office to crack down on illegal immigration, which include fast-tracking deportations, suspending the refugee program and lifting rules restricting immigration enforcement at or near schools and churches. School districts across Northeastern Pennsylvania are working on similar protocols if Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were to visit. Keating pointed to the pop-up note on the district's website directing the public to contact Assistant Superintendent of Community Relations and Student/Staff Support Al O'Donnell regarding the changes in the law. She said officials are ensuring students are receiving support services and are setting up a page with information on immigration on the district's website. 'We have always had a really strong social and emotional learning program,' she said, adding she's asked staff and administrators to keep Character Strong, a program for students to develop social and emotional skills, running. Keating said the district is being open and transparent with information and are ensuring resources are available. Administrators talk regularly with law enforcement and city officials, and the district's legal team vets any action taken and are part of the conversation in dealing with the changes, she said. Keating planned to bring up the topic of immigration with Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti this week. However, Keating said administrators and the board are still figuring out the new laws but emphasized it is the district's priority to ensure the health, safety and welfare of students. 'This is always our top priority,' she said. O'Donnell emphasized officials are around to help and support families and encouraged them to reach out to him. 'We are in unchartered waters so there will be changes along the way but always remember … we are here to protect the health and safety of children of the Scranton School District,' he said. In other news, Keating said administrators met earlier this month with representatives from Rohrer, Thomas Built Buses and Pete's Garage, the district's bus provider, to discuss why some of the district's electric buses aren't running. Officials unveiled the district's first environmentally friendly buses in the fall. Rohrer purchased the buses for Dunmore-based Pete's Garage, the district's bus provider. The Duncanon-based company bought the buses, which cost $375,000 each, with a $9.87 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Clean School Bus Program. There are 25 electric buses in the district, of which 20 are on the road, officials said. Keating said there are issues with the chargers and the buses being able to hold a charge, with Thomas Built representatives stating the problem is with the 12 volt batteries. She said Rohrer representatives will be on site beginning early next month and would see the buses are working. 'I understand getting these buses is extremely important,' she said, emphasizing officials want to get the buses on the road.
