While the East Myton Complex Fire is not considered a continued threat and containment efforts are going well it does represent something very concerning. Mike Eriksson with Forestry, Fire, and State Lands says this week’s fire east of Myton is the biggest that the state has seen so far this year. While there have been a few other small fires in the state in 2021, this was the first fire of the season to threaten as many structures as it did and having a fire this early in the season is a serious cause for concern. The last time the fire season started this early in the Uintah Basin was 2012. “Lots of folks are very nervous,” shares Eriksson. “When burning, all are supposed to call Dispatch to let them know of their plans to burn and to ask IF conditions are right to burn at that time but so many don’t call in and then there’s a fire.” Eriksson says negligent burning is taken very seriously and those responsible will be held accountable. He said that northeastern Utah needs to do a better job with responsible burning and preventing fires. According to Eriksson, there is work to be done out in the Uintah Basin. We need to take prevention seriously and realize it looks like 2021 will be a really bad fire season so extra caution must be taken.
