When I moved to Garfield County, I remember one of the first impressions I had on this area was how beautiful it truly is. It was so very green and rather wet the first couple of weeks. Smelling the rain and the sage is one of the most divine experiences.
Little did I know back then that come June through July, it is really dry and hot. The rain showers typically don’t happen during those two months, and you usually have to wait until August for a good rainstorm.
Forest fires are creepy!
It’s between those two months that two alarming, all too common phenomena occur: forest fires and droughts. While the cause of the fire may vary, the factors that play into the fire remain constant. The dry season puts every plant thirsty for water, and when a fire starts it burns hotter in comparison to other seasons.
The lack of water makes it difficult to put out fires. Because of the drought, under normal circumstances the fire can’t be put out completely until August, and that’s a long time for a fire to be burning.
My least favorite part—aside from the beautiful forests burning down—is the smoke. The smoke turns a crystal blue sky into a muddy blue on the horizon line. When the sun sets, the smoke is a bright red casting the sky in an eerie light. There have been years where the fires have been closer to home, and the smoke and ash billows miles high into the sky. The smell of it is strong even indoors, and in the night time you can see the glow of the fire on the mountain top.
One of the creepiest things I have ever seen is at nighttime when all that smoke makes the moon a deep red color floating above the mountain tops on Bear Valley.
The Fires Have Returned
It’s that time of year again, though I will say it’s starting a little bit later than last year. But the fires have returned. In Washington County, 300 to 500 acres have gone up in smoke. The fire was caused by a rollover crash on state Route 9 on Dalton Road, and with the wind blowing as it has been, it made the perfect conditions for a fire.
Fires at this time of year are quite easy to start, but really hard to stop, and can come from anywhere. Try to prevent forest fires as much as possible. Also be aware that some fires can’t really be prevented especially if it wasn’t even predicted. I mean, it’s not everyday you get into a rollover crash and accidently start a fire; that’s just as random as random can be.
Anyway, stay safe this summer, and have fun!
– by Ella Hughes (18) Panguitch
Feature image caption: A rollover crash on state Route 9 started a fire in Washington County, Utah, that has no consumed 300-500 acres. Courtesy Joshua Pettit.
Ella Hughes – Panguitch
Ella Hughes is a junior journalist and editor at The Byway. She has recently graduated from Panguitch High School and has written for The Byway for two years now. Her favorite topics to write about are history as well as present-day local events. In her free time she enjoys singing, watching movies, reading books, and spending time with her family she adores.
Ella is currently serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She is serving in the Philippines Tacloban Mission.