Latest news with #WorkingGrouponWildfireManagement
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Gov. Cox issues wildfire executive order as Utah prepares for the ‘unexpected'
Gov. Spencer Cox issued an executive order Monday that seeks to bolster Utah's wildfire preparedness and coordination ahead of the anticipated fire season. The order establishes the Working Group on Wildfire Management, which will be composed of several agency heads, including Utah Department of Natural Resources Director Joel Ferry, Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands Director Jamie Barnes and Utah Department of Public Safety Director Jess Anderson. They will be tasked with providing a report by June 1 that outlines areas of concern; coordination with city, state and private land owners; and improvements to evacuation planning. The report will also seek to identify "priority areas" for wildfire mitigation projects on state and, through possible coordination, federal land, and post-fire risks like debris flows, among other things. "This is about making sure we're ready before the next fire season begins," Cox said in a statement. His order is slated to expire June 1. The order comes less than a week after the governor said he was working on potential emergency declarations for some parts of Utah amid drought concerns in central and southern Utah. He hinted that drought-related executive orders could be issued when legislators return to Capitol Hill for a session in May. Most of Washington County and parts of Iron County remain in extreme drought, while another third of the state — including large portions of eastern and western Utah — is listed as in severe drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Only a quarter of the state is either not listed under a drought category or considered "abnormally dry." These indicate that soil moisture levels are not ideal for most of the state, which is a potential problem. "Utah's low soil moisture can create conditions favorable for wildfires," the order states. "Unpredictable factors, such as weather, can impact fire activity and may cause the rapid growth of wildfires." Long-range outlooks don't offer many favors, at least for the start of summer. While the National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center projects a wet end to April for Utah, its latest report lists the state as having greater odds for below-normal precipitation and above-normal temperatures in May. Its three-month outlook leans toward slightly drier conditions for most of the state between May and July, aside from the very southern end of the state, which is listed as having "equal chances" for precipitation. Even then, early monsoonal storms could produce lightning before conditions improve across the driest part of the state. That's where early planning comes into play. Cox's order comes after the state passed a few wildfire-related bills in the 2025 legislative session, including one that put Utah on track to join the Great Plains Interstate Fire Compact, which would allow it to share resources with other member states. Those legislative conversations took place as state leaders looked to find ways to avoid repeating the catastrophic fires that killed more than two dozen people and destroyed over 15,000 structures in Southern California earlier this year. Meanwhile, state fire experts have warned about unpredictable fire conditions that can last before and after the typical summer months. 'When it comes to wildfires, the unexpected has become the new normal,' Barnes said. 'Improving the effectiveness and efficiency of our planning efforts can help reduce risks to watersheds and landscapes across the state — and strengthen our overall wildfire preparedness.'
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Gov. Spencer Cox signs executive order to address Utah wildfires before they begin
SALT LAKE CITY () — As Utah warms up and inches closer to the dry season, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox issued , establishing a work group to fight wildfires before they begin. The Working Group on Wildfire Management will be composed of state leaders from several agencies, including the Department of Natural Resources, the Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, the Department of Public Safety as well as the state fire management officer and the state fire marshal. The group will be tasked with working alongside local firefighters to create a report detailing the areas of greatest concern for large-scale wildfires. The report will also include a fire mitigation plan to reduce fuels and prevent fires from damaging state buildings and schools. 'I'm incredibly proud of Utah's firefighters and first responders. Their courage and dedication set the standard – and this executive order builds on their work by improving coordination and focusing our efforts where they're needed most,' said Cox. 'This is about making sure we're ready before the next fire season begins.' Utah could catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights this week During the 2024 wildfire season, Utah saw throughout the state. Over 700 of those fires were human-caused, including the devastating , which burned over 33,000 acres for nearly six weeks before being fully contained in November. The Governor's Office said the executive order builds on the campaign, which reportedly helped reduce human-caused wildfires by nearly 75% from 2020 to 2023. Wildfires can do more than wreak havoc on Utah's landscape. The Governor's Office said post-fire risks, including flooding and debris flows, can devastate a community long after the fire has been extinguished. 'When it comes to wildfires, the unexpected has become the new normal,' Jamie Barnes, State Forester and Director of the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands, said in a statement. 'Improving the effectiveness and efficiency of our planning efforts can help reduce risks to watersheds and landscapes across the state – and strengthen our overall wildfire preparedness.' Finally, Gov. Cox's executive order encourages Utahns to be prepared for the wildfire season by making a plan and preparing an emergency supply kit. This includes knowing evacuation routes, helping maintain access to fire hydrants, and creating 'defensible spaces' around homes. To learn more on what you can do to be prepared for wildfire season, visit and . The Governor's full executive order can be found below: EO-Fire-Preparedness-04212025Download Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
