Fire restrictions ordered early to reduce wildfire risk
Stage one fire restrictions will begin on June 18 for all areas in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. The following will be prohibited:
- Campfires, unless within a designated recreation Forest Service site equipped with an established fire ring or grill.
- Charcoal briquettes, unless used in established grills within a Forest Service designated recreation site.
- Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or clear of all flammable materials.
Fireworks are also prohibited on National Forest System lands at all times.
The Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest encompasses much of northern Utah and includes Logan Canyon, Blacksmith Fork Canyon and the Mount Naomi and Wellsville Mountain Wilderness Areas.
USDA Forest Service Stage one fire restrictions begin on June 18 in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, which is shaded on this map.
Campfires will still be allowed during stage one fire restrictions at the following locations:
- Bridger Campground
- Spring Hollow Campground
- Dewitt Picnic Area
- Guinavah-Malibu Campground
- Card Picnic Area
- Chokecherry Picnic Area
- Preston Valley Campground
- Lodge Campground
- Wood Camp Campground
- Tony Grove Campground (currently closed until 7/1)
- Lewis M. Turner Campground (currently closed until 7/1)
- Red Banks Campground
- Sunrise Campground
- Pioneer Campground
- Shenoah Picnic Area
- Friendship Campground
- Spring Campground
- Smithfield Campground
- Box Elder Campground
When having campfires, forest visitors are urged to exercise extreme caution and completely extinguish them before leaving their campsite.
Personal devices fueled by liquid petroleum that can be turned on and off such as stoves, lanterns, grills and fire pits are allowed in areas outside of designated recreation areas.
This is very early for fire restrictions in Utah, according to Jennefer Parker, a district ranger from the Logan Ranger District.
“I’ve been here 13 years, and we’ve not been in fire restrictions in June,” Parker said. “I haven’t talked to anybody else that remembers being in fire restrictions in June.”
Parker said that it’s especially important for students to be aware of fire restrictions.
“Our visitors and especially our students should always know before you go,” Parker said. “Check out what the current situations are so that you don’t end up starting a fire that you might be responsible for the costs of the suppression of that fire.”
Gov. Spencer Cox warned that the fire danger in Utah is “extremely high” in a virtual town hall on Tuesday.
“A single spark can just run,” Cox said. “I’ve seen it happen, it’s crazy, it’s scary. The vegetation is so dry right now, it almost reacts like toilet paper when you light it, and it kind of just explodes and takes off.”
Fire restrictions typically stay in place until significant precipitation occurs.
More specific details on the fire restrictions can be found at https://www.fs.usda.gov/uwcnf.