Signs of new life unfolding a year after wildfire
Jul 15, 2019, 5:44 AM | Updated: 5:49 am
In this Monday, July 8, 2019 file, burned trees stand beside living trees on the mountainside during a tour to examine conditions within the Wildcat Wildlife Management Area roughly a year after a wildfire in Duchesne County, Utah. The wildfire started about eight miles southwest of Duchesne and torched more than 100 square miles, but there are some signs of new life. (Isaac Hale/The Daily Herald via AP)
(Isaac Hale/The Daily Herald via AP)
HEBER CITY, Utah (AP) — Signs of new life are appearing in part of northeastern Utah where a wildfire that torched more than 100 square miles a year ago.
As for wildlife, most animals didn’t leave the area during the fire, and those that did quickly came back.
The blaze started July 1 about 8 miles (13 kilometers) southwest of Duchesne, and destroyed more than 70 homes as it burned for more than a month. People living in the area have also had to deal with floods last year, and worry they could return.
“It really devastated a lot of the homes that were left,” said Duchesne County Commissioner Greg Todd. There are homes that are still not occupied due to flooding, he said.
Still, he’s optimistic about the new growth he’s seen so far.
“We’ve been tickled to see what’s up there,” Todd said.
