Ski Country is Also Wild Fire Country

[Electricwoman]

In Washington State it was the county Conservation District that taught Firewise landscaping practices when I had my home evaluated. They still provide Free Home Assessment visits.

Now the county Department of Emergency Management offers presentations where several agencies join together. Local jurisdictions can find resources at https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/wildfire/firewise-usa

 

[Aerlind]

I’m a “child of the west”, growing up in Colorado and then moving to Montana. Fires have always been a threat because my family has always had property in wildfire areas. I never grew up camping with campfires, we cooked on small, safe camp stoves like everyone else…..so it’s a real treat when I get to enjoy one. Usually in late spring…and it’s always small, with buckets of water nearby, and never left unattended. And NEVER during a fire ban or red flag warning.

You literally couldn't pay me enough to leave the west and move somewhere like New England. (Companies have tried). I’m glad people live there (especially so they don’t live here, ha), but it’s just not a place I can see myself.

So I prepare. I use my horses to graze a perimeter around my property. I have an evacuation plan. I have my truck and horse trailer hitched 24/7 in the summer, so I can load and leave in minutes if I need to. Last summer, where there was a fire a couple of miles away (thankfully upwind), I had no less than 3 friends reach out and offer help, sanctuary for myself and my animals, and support. I watched flames from my porch. I have no desire to do that again, but know I probably will.


@HuntersEmma57 I was camping (with my horse, at an endurance ride) near-ish you last weekend, near the Strawberry reservoir outside of Heber City. The creek that usually runs through camp and supplies our horse water for the weekend was dry. We were encouraged to bring water because there was a limited amount to haul in. The camp is on public land (and permitted via use permits from the forest service), but there are always other local yahoos up there in their RVs. This weekend was no different. About 30 folks, circled their RVs like wagons. Running generators all night long (more annoying than unsafe as modern generators have safety mechanisms to prevent fires…), and my SO said he thought he heard them lighting firecrackers, or shooting things, in the week hours of the morning. Remember, I was there with my horse: there were about 40 horses in the camp area altogether. Obviously, we can’t stop them from being there, but seriously people, use a brain cell. A) High fire danger. B) Spooking 40 horses isn’t going to end well for anyone. C) Maybe have some respect for other people nearby and don’t be obnoxious at times most people are trying to sleep….

As the front blew through Friday night, the smoke from fires near(ish) Provo came with it. I smelled it mid-night when I got up to pee, and immediately panicked and checked Watch Duty (because we luckily had cell service) to make sure it wasn’t nearby, while mentally preparing to chuck everything in my trailer and get the heck out of there. At 3am. It had drifted back by the morning and Saturday dawned clear and mercifully cool, and I had the most enjoyable day in the mountains, reminding me why I just can’t bear to leave the west.

 

[BlizzardBabe]

I’m a “child of the west”, growing up in Colorado and then moving to Montana.

You literally couldn't pay me enough to leave the west and move somewhere like New England. (Companies have tried). I’m glad people live there (especially so they don’t live here, ha), but it’s just not a place I can see myself . . .

. . . It had drifted back by the morning and Saturday dawned clear and mercifully cool, and I had the most enjoyable day in the mountains, reminding me why I just can’t bear to leave the west.

I completely understand, @Aerlind . I feel about New England the way you feel about the mountain west. Unfortunately for me, I don't live in either place! There are nice things to say about the mid-Atlantic (the weather isn't one of them), but I'd move to NH, VT, or ME in a heartbeat if I could. I actually feel almost physical pain when I have to leave after a visit.

 

[BlizzardBabe]

(Continued from above) All that said, fire doesn't necessarily respect location. We've had friends who lost their entire ranch in California in the 1990's, another friend lost everything in the 2012 Lower North Fork Fire near Evergreen CO, and yet another friend's home was heavily damaged in the 2016 Gatlinburg TN fire. I've been evacuated from a Shenandoah National Park campsite, and a put on alert on a visit to the Lake Tahoe area. Sure, fire is much more prevalent in certain areas, but we all have an obligation to be aware and act responsibly no matter the location. Now if we could only convince the yahoos of that . . .

 

[diymom]

Sure, fire is much more prevalent in certain areas, but we all have an obligation to be aware and act responsibly no matter the location. Now if we could only convince the yahoos of that . . .

A much smaller scale, but just two years ago there was a fire in our local hiking area, the Blue Hills, that burnt around 50 acres. Yet on recent hikes I have found evidence of "party" sites, with not just empties and trash, but fires. And cigarette butts near trail heads. And olfactory evidence of someone smoking up mid trail. It's just sad.

 

[diymom]

And it seems that there was a smaller one in the Blue Hills again just yesterday afternoon, this time only 7 acres. And again, the report says human caused. From the dot on the map in the report, I'm pretty sure it's yet another location I've seen party evidence. We are certainly lucky that these haven't been fires that consume hundreds of acres, but the downside (if I can call it that) of them being smaller is that most people around here are completely unaware that they have even happened, stay ignorant about the risks, and therefore are more likely to continue any foolhardy behaviours. Which some day might spark a bigger fire. I would say I wish the local news would give any and all fires more coverage to grow awareness, but then again I doubt the people causing them watch the local news.

 

[snoWYmonkey]

I dread fire season, and my lungs do too. I am at a point where a life change could happen, and that is one of the main points that I would factor in. I would not trade it for living in a more violent community, which is almost hard to avoid, nor would I go somewhere hit by hurricanes or tornadoes on a regular basis. Those are somewhat foreign to me, and I don't need to add to my own growing list of things to be anxious about.

A large number of wildfires where I live in Wyoming are still started by nature not stupid humans. Some of the biggest in US history still have lightning as the primary trigger. I think what is different is how many more people are in the path of fires in the American west in the modern era.

My two evacuations were stupid human caused. I don't differentiate between local and non local. The first one was an old timer burning trash in his barrel like he has for decades. He lives less than half a mile from the dump. Grrrr... The other was a camp fire by the river. The one I had to call in was a transformer that blew and started a grass fire below the power line. Many CA fires have started that way from what I read.

I know from neighbors that getting home owner's insurance is increasingly difficult. Does anyone here have any reports of the same being true for apartment buildings or condos in small western mountain towns? Just curious how that game is playing out as I ponder all the possible changes.

 

[Aerlind]

I know from neighbors that getting home owner's insurance is increasingly difficult. Does anyone here have any reports of the same being true for apartment buildings or condos in small western mountain towns? Just curious how that game is playing out as I ponder all the possible changes.

While I can’t speak to apartment/condo buildings, I do know that one factor affecting the ease and cost of your homeowner’s insurance is physically proximity to a fire station. Despite living in a log cabin in southwest Montana, my homeowner’s insurance (through USAA) is very reasonable, in part because I’m geographically less than half a mile from the town’s fire station. I conveniently didn’t mention that it’s volunteer-only and staffed by about 12 guys, all over the age of 60…..anyway, where I’m going with this, apartment/condo insurance may be reasonable because those buildings tend to be in more developed areas, where there are nearby fire stations (even if volunteer).

 

[snoWYmonkey]

While I can’t speak to apartment/condo buildings, I do know that one factor affecting the ease and cost of your homeowner’s insurance is physically proximity to a fire station. Despite living in a log cabin in southwest Montana, my homeowner’s insurance (through USAA) is very reasonable, in part because I’m geographically less than half a mile from the town’s fire station. I conveniently didn’t mention that it’s volunteer-only and staffed by about 12 guys, all over the age of 60…..anyway, where I’m going with this, apartment/condo insurance may be reasonable because those buildings tend to be in more developed areas, where there are nearby fire stations (even if volunteer).

That's definitely the case by us. We are at least 5 miles away from a station and there is no water in my neighborhood for them to access. During one fire they set up portable massive tanks on every other property just in case since the pressure for 200 homes is limited as is during summer use.

I see images of entire towns, condos included, decimated and wonder if small towns surrounded by forests are imoacted by costs or denials of coverage even in multi unit buildings?

You are lucky to be so close.

 

[MissySki]

That's definitely the case by us. We are at least 5 miles away from a station and there is no water in my neighborhood for them to access. During one fire they set up portable massive tanks on every other property just in case since the pressure for 200 homes is limited as is during summer use.

I see images of entire towns, condos included, decimated and wonder if small towns surrounded by forests are imoacted by costs or denials of coverage even in multi unit buildings?

You are lucky to be so close.

Wow, this is not something I've ever really thought about... they have to actually truck water in for fires in your area?? I guess this must be the case in towns around here that don't have town water as well, but I've never thought about it because I haven't lived somewhere without it yet.

I live just over a mile from our fire station, my street only has 5 houses on it and we are at the end of it, we have a fire hydrant at the top of my driveway. Technically it's on our property in a flower bed, we are responsible for making sure it is dug out from snow and accessible in the winter etc. The fire station would be here in around 4 mins in an emergency, which I can validate because one time I was stung by a bee in the throat while home alone, I felt like my throat was swelling but didn't know if it was due to a potential allergy or just the location of the sting. I called 911 instead of driving myself somewhere to be checked, just in case, and I was shocked at how fast the ambulance got here. They were like, well we were just down the road at the fire station... duh I hadn't even thought about where they would be coming from. Our nearest hospital is 20-30 minutes away, so it was definitely reassuring should an emergency ever arise.

 

[Jilly]

My vacation property doesn't have water either. They have large tankers here. Or they could just put a gas pump in the lake and pump. And like @Aerlind volunteer except the chief.

My insurance also states how far to the nearest fire hall. I'm sure it does help with the rates.

We're not in high risk wild fire area, but they can happen anywhere. I get worried about the amount of foliage and really tall pines on the property. So I'm more concerned about one of these pines falling on the cottage.

Currently it's really HOT (40C), but we're getting storms with lots of rain coming through.

 

[MissySki]

My vacation property doesn't have water either. They have large tankers here. Or they could just put a gas pump in the lake and pump. And like @Aerlind volunteer except the chief.

My insurance also states how far to the nearest fire hall. I'm sure it does help with the rates.

We're not in high risk wild fire area, but they can happen anywhere. I get worried about the amount of foliage and really tall pines on the property. So I'm more concerned about one of these pines falling on the cottage.

Currently it's really HOT (40C), but we're getting storms with lots of rain coming through.

Yes, very hot here too for the next few days. The actual temperature now is 93F but the "feels like" is 102F due to the high humidity. Tomorrow is going to be actual 97F and "feels like" 107F when I tee off for one of my golf leagues at 5pm (so not even the hottest part of the day).... Yuck!! We don't often reach these temperatures for sustained periods of triple digits. I mean we get it here and there, but this one is pretty hot. And yeah we'll see about pop up thunderstorms, it's for sure always a possibility when it gets this hot here.

I took a dip in the pool with my dogs at lunchtime today because it was too hot for Puggies to run around in this weather. Luckily one of my dogs is a total little fish and loves to swim, the other is just getting started with swimming so he prefers to float more than swim still... but both got cooled off and some energy out, which was the goal.

 

[Ginny]

Ski country is also my home. Sorry, but I gotta rant. I mean seriously gotta rant, because there's nowhere to run to anymore.

Following lowest snowpack on modern record, on top of the news filled with dire predictions of extreme drought, massive wildfires, and reservoirs so low water and power generation for millions of people are at risk, TOURISTS and often 2nd home owners show up and think none of the rules, water restrictions, or fire safety precautions apply to them.

SPARKS start fires. Any and every kind of spark, even tiny sparks, can cause wildfires. Windblown sparks from wet or sappy wood. Chains dragging on pavement. Heavy equipment striking rocks. If you see sparks rising up from your fire ring, you can start a fire.

We have signs posted all over NO FIREWORKS. But many visitors seem to think that 'NO FIREWORKS" warnings don't apply to them, or to "just small" fireworks, or literally on any holiday or anytime they are personally on vacation. "It's not the 4th of July without fireworks" is the excuse I hear. Well, then do it at your own house, in your own neighborhood. Don't bring your incendiaries to drought stricken areas.

I have, for years, lived in popular tourism areas. I long ago concluded that 75% of people when on vacation automatically lose 50 IQ points. Just look at all the people posing with bison, bears, and elk in Yellowstone; who fall off cliffs posing for selfies; who ignore ski resort boundaries and trigger avalanches; or who hike in the Grand Canyon with one bottle of water when there are HUGE signs everywhere describing how they WILL die without sufficient hydration or if they overexert in the unshaded canyon's extreme temps (2 last week). My own grown a$$ adult sons have hiked with dangerously minimal hydration multiple times while vacationing.

It's wild fire season and not just in the Intermountain West.

Here's what I am seeing in Utah. Red flag warning for several days.

Yahoos, mainly locals, go up into the mountains to "target" practice and hit *#$%!! rocks that spark and start fires. It's one, if not the main causes of fires in Utah. Not lightning. Guns/ammo. On average 80% of wildfires in Utah are human caused. 80%. This is not reasonable nor should it be acceptable. I think life in prison is too short for violators.

I live in a wood-sided, wood framed condos on the edge of Cache National Forest and bordering Powder Mountain resort. Two days ago, a human caused fire in a permanently closed campground started a blaze. Some locals report it was sparklers given to kids.

This fire is 3 miles from my home and directly under the main power transmission lines that served the entire Ogden Valley and parts of the City of Ogden.

Meanwhile, down in SLC, a human cause fire broke out just above the University of Utah main campus. That fire (and 4 or 5 others) competed for fire resources.

We got lucky. The Red Flag winds wound down and the Middle Fork fire (by me) was contained late yesterday. This fire started as a grass fire, but made it to the heavily wooded ravine headed for Powder Mtn ski resort. Had the winds continued, I don't know that I'd be in my home today.

Last night, we could again sleep with window open. Light breeze, temps in the 40s overnight. No A/C running. One of the big reasons we moved here. Dark skies, cool nights, fresh air.

At 6am, I awakened with a jolt to the smell of smoke. I ran outside and could not see the source. I opened Watch Duty wildfire app (highly recommend) for fire reports. Local fire still reports containment, but hadn't been updated in 15 hours. No new fires reported in our area.

The smell faded. 45 minutes later, I SEE smoke and dense enough it had to be nearby. Again, I run outside.

Four units down, a vacation renter had an electric SMOKER going. The smoke is now billowing. I had to slam my windows shut. No coffee, breakfast, enjoying the views, no watching the hot air balloons, or reading a book on either the balconies or patios for at least 48 condos (building laid out in a horseshoe shape) of the 216 units here. Because one numbskull decided because since it was an electric smoker, it'd be NBD at 6AM. THOUGHTLESS & UTTERLY BEWILDERING.

I plead with anyone who will listen. Please use common sense, be aware of the common temptation to suspend rules while on vacation, and treat others as you would have them treat you and your neighborhood.

Put yourselves in our shoes. And for god's sake, understand that the smell of a campfire or smoke of any kind is a PTSD trigger for those of us who live with the very real threat of wildfires for half the year. There's no delight in smelling smoke here; to the contrary, it's often terrifying.

Over my lifetime, I have lived or in/around National Forests, National Parks, BLM lands, and other federal and state parks for 25 years. I have never once had a campfire. Never set off fireworks. We chose to not create risks to our fellow humans or to our glorious public lands. We slept better, breathed clean air, and never felt we were missing out on a single thing.

I feel your pain and pray the IQs increase and not the flames!

 

[marzNC]

About the damage at Eagle Point . . .

June 30, 2026

 

[Tvan]

Wow, this is not something I've ever really thought about... they have to actually truck water in for fires in your area?? I guess this must be the case in towns around here that don't have town water as well, but I've never thought about it because I haven't lived somewhere without it yet.

When we lived in CT, we were a mile from the fire department and had a similar experience to yours when we needed an ambulance. They were there in minutes.

In our VT home, we are in a rural development. No city water and no fire hydrants. Our neighborhood has a firepond with a hose connector that the fire department can connect to, should they need water to fight a fire in our development. Last summer in the drought, that pond was dry, and we all crossed our fingers and toes that we would not need it. This summer, we've had enough rain to keep it full so far.

 

[HuntersEmma57]

In Utah, we are mostly just directed by the Governor to pray for the drought to end. I did find some Firewise online resources for FireWise landscaping for Utah. Actual physical in person help and support? Not so much.

 

[HuntersEmma57]

I’m a “child of the west”, growing up in Colorado and then moving to Montana. Fires have always been a threat because my family has always had property in wildfire areas. I never grew up camping with campfires, we cooked on small, safe camp stoves like everyone else…..so it’s a real treat when I get to enjoy one. Usually in late spring…and it’s always small, with buckets of water nearby, and never left unattended. And NEVER during a fire ban or red flag warning.

You literally couldn't pay me enough to leave the west and move somewhere like New England. (Companies have tried). I’m glad people live there (especially so they don’t live here, ha), but it’s just not a place I can see myself.

So I prepare. I use my horses to graze a perimeter around my property. I have an evacuation plan. I have my truck and horse trailer hitched 24/7 in the summer, so I can load and leave in minutes if I need to. Last summer, where there was a fire a couple of miles away (thankfully upwind), I had no less than 3 friends reach out and offer help, sanctuary for myself and my animals, and support. I watched flames from my porch. I have no desire to do that again, but know I probably will.


@HuntersEmma57 I was camping (with my horse, at an endurance ride) near-ish you last weekend, near the Strawberry reservoir outside of Heber City. The creek that usually runs through camp and supplies our horse water for the weekend was dry. We were encouraged to bring water because there was a limited amount to haul in. The camp is on public land (and permitted via use permits from the forest service), but there are always other local yahoos up there in their RVs. This weekend was no different. About 30 folks, circled their RVs like wagons. Running generators all night long (more annoying than unsafe as modern generators have safety mechanisms to prevent fires…), and my SO said he thought he heard them lighting firecrackers, or shooting things, in the week hours of the morning. Remember, I was there with my horse: there were about 40 horses in the camp area altogether. Obviously, we can’t stop them from being there, but seriously people, use a brain cell. A) High fire danger. B) Spooking 40 horses isn’t going to end well for anyone. C) Maybe have some respect for other people nearby and don’t be obnoxious at times most people are trying to sleep….

As the front blew through Friday night, the smoke from fires near(ish) Provo came with it. I smelled it mid-night when I got up to pee, and immediately panicked and checked Watch Duty (because we luckily had cell service) to make sure it wasn’t nearby, while mentally preparing to chuck everything in my trailer and get the heck out of there. At 3am. It had drifted back by the morning and Saturday dawned clear and mercifully cool, and I had the most enjoyable day in the mountains, reminding me why I just can’t bear to leave the west.

I really appreciate your post. I am so sorry you got some of the worst of Utah at Strawberry Res. and I'm delighted you had a wonderful capstone ride. Even with crowds up here at Pineview Reservoir and most rentals filled for the very loooong weekend, we didn't hear a single firework or smell a single campfire. I regained a touch of hope for humanity. The fire-free holiday cause was supported by the readily visible burn scar from just a few weeks ago is readily and a lot of coverage of the tragic deaths of 3 firefighters and 2 injured on the UT/CO border.

 

[snoWYmonkey]

Meanwhile teton county idaho fire department had to extinguish 3 brushfires from fireworks on the 4th and 2 on the 5th. Grrrrr....

Only aerial fireworks are illegal but still sold everywhere along with the rest of the varieties that are legal.

 

[HuntersEmma57]

Meanwhile teton county idaho fire department had to extinguish 3 brushfires from fireworks on the 4th and 2 on the 5th. Grrrrr....

Only aerial fireworks are illegal but still sold everywhere along with the rest of the varieties that are legal.

Only aerial fireworks are illegal? Anything that can spark can start a fire. Period. Full STOP!!!

 

[marzNC]

Eagle Point is posting updates on their website as blog entries. Very had to say when/if they can re-open for snowsports.

June 29, 2026

Eagle Point Resort Provides Update Following Cottonwood Fire June 29th, 2026 - Eagle Point Resort

Today, for the first time since the Cottonwood Fire reached Eagle Point Resort, we were able to return and begin seeing the impact firsthand. We wanted to share an initial […]

www.eaglepointresort.com

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