SALT LAKE (July 2, 2024)—The Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands has seen increased fire activity along roadsides and related to agricultural/debris burning this fire year. Wildfires started by vehicles and other equipment have been on the rise this year. Since Memorial Day weekend and the start of the summer travel season, Utah has experienced 56 wildfires caused …
Colorado River Riparian Habitat Restoration Receives Funding
Moab, Utah (June 27, 2024) – A multi-year project by the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands to address the impacts of invasive species along 384 acres of the Colorado River has become a fully funded project in the latest round of funding through Utah’s Watershed Restoration Initiative (WRI). The project was ranked 8th out of 121 candidates …
State, Local and Federal Partners Encourage Utahns to Use Their Fire Sense this Summer
SALT LAKE CITY (June 10, 2024) – As the summer starts to heat up, state, federal and local fire officials spoke at a press event to encourage Utahns and visitors to exercise good Fire Sense as they head outdoors to enjoy the state’s natural wonders. “Fire Sense is common sense,” said Jamie Barnes, Director and State Forester of Utah Forestry, …
Two Utah Companies Receive Over $800,000 in Wood Products Grants
SALT LAKE – Two companies in Utah, Blazzard Lumber Co and Thompson Sawmill, were awarded over $800,000 from the US Forest Service as a part of the Wood Innovations Program. Blazzard Lumber and Thompson Sawmill received funding through the Wood Products Infrastructure Assistance Grant. This funding was part of a bigger $73.9 million investment from the USFS to support the …
Kit Carson’s Cross Receives Recognition on National Register of Historic Places
SALT LAKE (May 30, 2024) – Kit Carson’s Cross, an iconic symbol that rests at the highest point of Fremont Island on the Great Salt Lake, has been added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) by the National Park Service. “The National Register of Historic Places is a powerful tool that allows our Division, as the landowner, to …
Cooperation among agencies aims to better prepare forested areas of the Wasatch Front to withstand risk of wildfire
SALT LAKE CITY (May 29, 2024) — The summer of 2024 will be the third year in which several agencies partner together to perform forest health treatments in areas at risk of high-intensity wildfires. Prescribed treatments have been carefully designed to improve forest health after extensive evaluation and planning. Treatments will include tree thinning, mastication (or mulching excess vegetation), and prescribed fire and will …
Forestry, Fire and State Lands Expands Wildfire Aviation Program
SALT LAKE (May 29, 2024) – The Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands is expanding its wildfire aviation program to include a helitack program to better assess and address active wildfires within the state. The new crew will be called the Diamond Fork Helitack and stationed at the Spanish Fork Airport. “Adding this helitack crew is the next …
Utah Receives Over $5.5 Million in Community Wildfire Defense Grant Funding
SALT LAKE (May 15, 2024) – On Tuesday, the US Department of Agriculture announced its second round of funding of project proposals as a part of the Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG) program. Three entities within Utah received over $5.5 million to be spent on protecting homes, businesses and infrastructure from catastrophic wildfires. Recipients in Utah that are a part …
Forest Legacy to Fund Summit County’s Wasatch Back Forest Conservation Project
SALT LAKE (May 14, 2024) – The United States Forest Service (USFS) announced yesterday that they will provide $40 million of Inflation Reduction Act funding through the Forest Legacy Program that will go to Summit County’s Wasatch Back Forest Conservation Project to preserve a large landscape project in Summit County. The 910 Ranch is 8,588 acres of privately owned forested …
FFSL and Compass Minerals Come Together to Protect Great Salt Lake
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Legislature passed HB453 Great Salt Lake Revisions, which directs the state water engineer to create a water distribution plan for the Great Salt Lake and establishes a severance tax for the lake’s minerals. The legislation also provides a tax incentive for companies that do not deplete water in their extraction process or that voluntarily …