SALT LAKE CITY (Jan. 8, 2026) – Today, the state of Utah entered into a 20-year cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, to help actively manage national forests across Utah. The agreement builds on and strengthens Utah’s Shared Stewardship partnership, which the state and the Forest Service have had in place since 2018, and formalizes a …
FFSL and DLE Partner to Restore Safety and Recreation to the Jordan River Parkway
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, the Utah Department of Natural Resources Division of Law Enforcement and other local law enforcement agencies have been conducting a public safety initiative along the Jordan River called “Operation Safe Streets.” This initiative has successfully reduced criminal activity and restored public access to one of the primary …
Forestry, Fire and State Lands Hands Out Annual Honors at Fall Fire Meeting
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Division of Forestry, Fire & State Lands, awarded three individuals at its annual Fall Fire Management Meeting. The awards are given to individuals and organizations who stood out this year in the areas of wildfire prevention, mitigation and interagency collaboration. Three awards were given out at this year’s meeting, and they included Travis Hobbs …
Utah’s Wildland Firefighters Participate in National Fight Against Cancer
SALT LAKE CITY—The men and women who fight wildfires in Utah face intense heat, smoke, and danger. But beyond the immediate hazards of a fire, they face an invisible threat: an increased risk of cancer caused by years of exposure to toxic chemicals. In a pioneering effort to protect its workforce, the State of Utah has joined forces with the …
Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands Secures $300,000 Federal Grant to Restore Beaver River Watershed
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – The Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands (FFSL) has been awarded a $300,000 grant from the USDA Forest Service. The funding, provided through the competitive Landscape Scale Restoration program, will be used to restore the Lower Beaver River watershed near Minersville, Utah. The project will focus on reducing hazardous fuels to mitigate wildfire …
Statement Regarding Flagpole at Black Rock
Black Rock is a distinctive feature on the southern end of Great Salt Lake and was a valuable waypoint for travelers crossing the Great Basin on the California Trail. That trail, and Black Rock itself, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Black Rock is managed by the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, which is …
Utah Receives $3 million for Forest Legacy Project in Washington County
SALT LAKE – The US Department of Agriculture has awarded $3 million in its latest round of funding for a Forest Legacy project in Washington County. The project is called the Zion Connectivity Project due to its close proximity to Zion National Park and other surrounding protected lands. Utah Forestry, Fire and State Lands will use the awarded funding to …
Matt Christensen Honored by USFWS with Partners Program Conservation Excellence Award
SALT LAKE – Matt Christensen, who serves as the Wildland-Urban Interface Coordinator in the FFSL Central Area, was honored by the US Fish and Wildlife Service with their 2024 USFWS Partners Program Conservation Excellence Award for his work with the agency on the San Pitch Rx. Each year, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) Partners for Fish and Wildlife …
Forestry, Fire and State Lands Sends Resources to Texas for Wildland Firefighting Support
SALT LAKE – The Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands is sending two task forces to Texas to assist with wildland firefighting efforts in the state. The two task forces are traveling to Texas on a severity assignment to assist the local firefighting resources due to heightened fire activity in the state. One task force consists of state …
Piute High School and FFSL Team Up to Educate on the Importance of Forestry and Wildfire
Junction, Utah – The Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands Central Area staff and the Piute High School Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) hosted a hands-on interactive assembly for the students. The assembly focused on forest ecology, fire behavior, mitigation and preparedness. The assembly was an initiative that provided interactive and hands-on activities for students and was …
