Risk for Summer Infernos Raised by Lack of Moisture

Dan Cather (on right) helps Wildland students understand the importance of teamwork during an exercise for the Fireline Leadership class. Photo courtesy of Andrea Hossley

As firefighters quench flames, Utah continues to be at a high risk for fires. There are eight active large wildland fires in the state that has burned over 176,000 acres, these wildland fires have long term effects on the land. Dan Cather, UVU’s Utah Fire and Rescue Academy Wildland Coordinator, explained that this could be a start to a dry fire cycle.

“We have not had a very eventful fire season for the last few years, we’ve had wet summers and wet springs,” said Cather. “Fire seasons go in cycles, we’re in the cycle of no moisture, and a lot of fires. You will go three or four years that it will be wet, and you’ll go a few years without moisture, it’s a cycle.” 

Cather has been a wildland firefighter since the 1990’s and is currently the wildland coordinator of the Utah Fire and Rescue Academy. Cather has involvement with all wildfires in the area including the Quail Fire, the Herriman Fire, and the Dump Fire.

According to Cather, wildland fires have long term effects. These effects include, flood potentials, an increase likelihood for drought, and a loss of minerals.

“The fire burns so hot that it can actually sterilize the ground, it removes the minerals and the essential elements out of that soil,” said Cather. “It takes a very long time for an area to rejuvenate and be able to come back.” 

When a wildfire happens firefighters will have cultural resource advisors come out and help devise a mitigation plan, they then decide what type of vegetation will help with the land. Cather explained that this is a long term process. 

Wildfires also have a deep impact on the firefighters physically and mentally. Cather mentioned that there are stress debriefing teams that will come in and help, so firefighters can talk and vent to a third party. 

“With your crew, you can do a lot of the venting together,” said Cather. “This is my family away from home, we get to know each other, we get to live together for two days, and then your off for four and your back.” 

UVU offers a basic wild land class and they have agencies come in and hire students to work on their crews. Cather estimated that there are about 30 students that are currently doing summer college credit internships helping wildfire crews. He said the top three things students learn is fire behavior, self discipline, and hard work ethics. 

“If they don’t have good self discipline or work ethic, they’ll get washed,” said Cather. He explained that wildland firefighters need to be physically fit and adaptable to live in extreme conditions. 

“If you like camping, it’s an ideal job, if you don’t like getting dirty then it’s not the ideal job,” said Cather. “You can go many days without a shower, you can go many days with moderated food, you’ll have water but it will be lukewarm water, it’s not like you are going to be able to go to the 7/11 and get a slurpee, you’re going to be living on that mountain.”

Cather said that wildland firefighting is a good way for firefighters to earn money during a busy fire season. He explained that there are a lot of things that a person can benefit from firefighting and that it is one of the hardest jobs he has ever had.

“I think by going out and doing wildland fires, it’s allowed me to see who I am, realize hard work ethics, and be able to handle and manage extreme conditions,” said Cather. “There’s nothing better then being out in nature and being able to see the serenity of the nature. I’ve traveled all over the country and I’ve been in many parts of the country that most people would never see.”