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Utah’s largest wildfire in nearly a decade crosses 100,000 acres burned
The Babylon Fire burning in southeast Utah crossed a critical threshold on Tuesday, with firefighters still working to contain it. The fire has burned over 102,000 acres in the Manti-Lasal National Forest and sits at 21% containment as of Thursday morning, according to crews on the fireline. It’s the first Utah wildfire to cross the 100,000 acres burned figure in 8 years, when the Pole Creek Fire burned around 102,000 acres after merging with the Bald Mountain Fire in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest in 2018. Upcoming weather conditions pose risks of fire expansion, particularly in the fire’s northeast corner, crews said in their Thursday update. Dry air, excessive heat and
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News
USFS allows N95 mask use for wildland firefighters
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service announced on Wednesday that it has authorized wildland firefighters to use N95 respirators on the fire line. A breathing apparatus or mask like an N95 hasn’t historically been a staple of wildland firefighters’ gear, though some have been in testing for years. The added carry
Fire Aviation
Global firefighting aircraft market continues to grow
The global firefighting aircraft market is predicted to grow at an annual rate of 6.3 per cent, according to a report by Allied Market Research. The media release on the report states that the global firefighting aircraft industry size generated US$9.0 billion in 2022 and is anticipated to generate US$16.2
Research
‘Fire weather’ indicators aren’t one size fits all, research shows
Metrics to indicate wildfire likelihood and severity are common worldwide; however, a growing body of research suggests that more nuanced approaches may be necessary. The Canadian Forest Fire Weather Index launched by the Canadian Forest Service in the 1960s is now adapted for use in numerous regions, including parts of
Safety and Training
Close calls and injuries in Texas
A 215-acre wildfire in San Jacinto County was contained on August 2 according to a report by ABC-13 News. That afternoon, resources were requested from Texas A&M Forest Service (TAMFS) on the Snowhill Fire. Shortly after 1 p.m. crews on the fire reported moderate to high fire behavior with several
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