OCR Text |
Show Dry grasses present fire hazard on watersheds in east canyons Recent dry weather has left the cheatgrass areas on the Spanish Fork Ranger District which extends east of Springville Spring-ville and Mapleton and north of Highway 50-6 to Soldier Summit, in a tinder-dry condition. con-dition. Many of the range and forest areas are covered with tall, dense stands of cheatgrass. Above normal moisture, through the spring growing period produced pro-duced cheatgrass from the valley val-ley bottoms to the top of many ridges. Any source of open flame could turn these areas into a flaming hillside, followed by blackened watershed. water-shed. If hot, dry weather continues con-tinues in the area, there could be one of the most dangerous fire situations the Uinta National Na-tional Forest has known. Already there has been two man-caused fires endangering the forest land on the Spanish Fork District. Although both fires were small, the potential for a large destructive fire is now present. Common causes of forest fires are the careless camper and smoker. No smoking or open fires are permitted anong the Wasatch Front except while in vehicles, along highways and in improved recreation areas. As one drives along the highway or the forest areas, he is asked to notice the heavy stands of cheatgrass and other dry fuels. By recognizing the hazard present, one would think before throwing a cigarette cigar-ette out the window or leave a campfire unattended. I s I , - '. '- . ' ; , . :. .. s - v , - 4 . " aa. , t A , i ' . . T"f y .; t ;.- . , . , '" "-, s t H ... ." . ; . ... - k I'M', : .if v . "Jf ""i5 'i its , ' . l , - V ' s ' ... :. I- i . Smokey the Bear stands in an area of dense, range grass to warn motorists and campers of the extreme danger of I fire In the forest areas at this particular time of the year. |