Utah State Forester Brian Cottam said “stupid human tricks” have led to the states’ wildfire bill being double what it usually is.
Cottam says the cost to Utah for this year’s wildfires is projected to be $18 million, while the state’s yearly average is $9 million. Cottam presented the total to the Legislature’s Executive Appropriations Committee in late August, saying the fire that is believed to have been started by someone burning weeds in Brian Head cost $10 million alone.
Cottam says 548 Utah wildfires this year were caused by humans, while 304 were started naturally.
For comparison, Cottam says Nevada has had three human-caused wildfires this year.
Cottam says 192 square miles of land have been burned this year by the human-caused fires.
Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Wildfire
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
Willis Towers Watson Accuses Lockton of ‘Smash and Grab’ of Construction Team 
Viewpoint: How Federal Ban on Intoxicating Hemp Products Will Reshape Risk, Coverage 
Powerful El Niño Nears Record Strength, US Forecasters Say 
UnitedHealth Sells Interest in Florida WellMed Clinics to TPG From This Issue
