The second and third words in today’s news release from the Twitchell fire in Utah are “lightning caused”. After choosing to use a “Monitor/Confine/Contain” strategy for two months and watching it grow to 33,687 acres, you are no longer allowed to use the term “lightning caused”. That is a rule we just invented. “Human allowed” is more accurate.

The fire started on July 20 from lightning, but it could have been suppressed on July 27 when it was 600 acres, or on July 22 when it was 47 acres, or on July 21 when it was 7 acres.

Below is a chart showing the fire growth. It does not include the additional 10,000 acres added over the last few days. HERE is a link to a map showing the fire progression through September 18.

More information including a map of the Twitchell fire from Wildfire Today on September 21.