Thanks to a particularly hot and dry winter, the American West is primed for its worst fire season in recent history. Utah in particular is feeling the repercussions of a winter that, according to the Utah Division of Water Resources, was by far the warmest on record. In addition to high temperatures, the state saw exceptionally low snowfall, as areas such as Salt Lake City registered just 7% of their yearly average snow.
The lack of snow, combined with the excess heat, has turned Utah into a tinderbox, primed to ignite throughout the summer fire season. As of July 6, over 350,000 acres of forest have fallen victim to wildfire in the state, already surpassing the total amount of Utah wilderness burned in the last five years combined. This huge number is due in large part to fires such as the Babylon and Cottonwood, which have cumulatively consumed nearly 200,000 acres.
As of today, July 7, the Babylon Fire has officially grown to over 100,000 acres, making it the largest active wildfire in the United States. The fire, which is currently burning near the Abajo Mountains in southeastern Utah, was started nearly two weeks ago by a yet-to-be-determined source. Thanks to its rural location, only five structures have been destroyed, with zero reported injuries or fatalities. However, it is important to note that the Babylon Fire remains at 0% containment and could continue to spread rapidly given the right conditions, such as a shift in wind.
While the Babylon Fire has thus far been relatively contained in its damage, the full extent of its impact remains to be seen. Furthermore, the fire-prone conditions in Utah aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. Hopefully, this summer of raging wildfires are an anomaly rather than a sign of things to come for the state of Utah and the rest of the American West.
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