Vegetation treatments pay off during firefighting efforts

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in southwest Utah, in cooperation with Utah’s Watershed Restoration Initiative and other interested parties, treats an average of 40,000 acres of public land annually. These treatments help improve wildfire manageability, limit resource loss, restore wildlife habitat and ensure rangeland health for a sustainable future. Recently wildfires crossed treatment areas showing their effectiveness in aiding firefighter’s suppression efforts.

On July 13, gusty south winds coupled with hot and dry conditions pushed the Veyo West Fire towards the community of Veyo in southwestern Utah. Resources (people, equipment, etc.) were assigned to protect the community of Brookside, Utah.

Dozer line is holding the Veyo Fire burning inside the treatment area. Photo Credits: James Terry and Zach Kunz

“As the fire entered the vegetation treatment area, fire behavior was greatly reduced and we could engage in suppression efforts,” said James Terry, one of the firefighters. “In the vegetation treatment area, it was much easier to construct and hold the fire line.” The fire ultimately grew to 2,618 acres but could have been much larger without the aid of fuel breaks to slow its growth. In 2018, the BLM, Utah’s Watershed Restoration Initiative, and other partners implemented a vegetation treatment that lies within the Hamlin Valley Sage Grouse Priority Habitat Management Area. During the project, vegetation was reduced by removing pinyon and juniper trees from an area once dominated by perennial grass, forbs, and shrubs. On the same day, the Veyo Fire started, the Big Summit Fire ignited in Nevada and raced towards the Utah state line. After crossing into Utah, it soon hit one of the Water Restoration Initiative Treatment areas and the intensity decreased dramatically, allowing firefighters to safely engage the fire and prevented it from moving further into Hamlin Valley, potentially consuming additional habitat and damaging homes.

Dozer building line in the vegetation treatment area. Photo Credits: James Terry and Zach Kunz

“Our projects are coordinated and implemented with our partners and typically involve removing pinyon and juniper trees that encroach into areas where they don’t belong. This is primarily due to decades of aggressive fire suppression,” said BLM Color Country Fuels Program Manager Shawn Peterson. Restoring balance using mechanical methods and appropriate seed mixes are top priority for creating resilient landscapes across the Color Country Fire Zone in southwest Utah.

Night burnout operations inside the treatment area of the Veyo Fire. Photo Credits: James Terry and Zach Kunz

“Fuels breaks help keep fires from burning habitat and people’s homes, said Cedar City Field Office Manager, Paul Briggs. “These two fires are great examples of how working with our partners we can protect both firefighters and the public while creating resilient landscapes.”

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