Wind prevents Friday prescribed burn in Salt Lake canyons

SALT LAKE CITY — The U.S. Forest Service decided not to start a prescribed burn on Friday in Parleys and Lambs Canyons. Officials said it was too windy on Friday.

Spokesperson Sierra Hellstrom said they may try again tomorrow.

“We have very small windows in which we’re able to complete some of these projects,” Hellstrom told KSL NewsRadio. “Though the excessive fuels in the area do create a potential for a catastrophic fire.”

Forest officials utilize prescribed burns to remove the excess vegetation that can fuel wildfires. And the groundwork had already been done. In a press release, the Forest Service said areas of each canyon had been hand-thinned with chainsaws, and that the result of the trimming, called the slash, was stacked for “efficient burning.”

 

Hellstrom said it’s particularly important to conduct these burns in forest areas near cities and homes.

Officials consider the recent amount of moisture, the wind, temperature, and air quality before carrying out prescribed burns.

If forest officials don’t carry out the prescribed burn on Saturday, the last day before a potential U.S. government shutdown, then the Forest Service will determine whether the project is an essential project. 

Simone Seikaly contributed.

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