(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) Mike Elson, the forest supervisor for Fishlake National Forest, lays down lines of fire with the use of a Terra Torch during a prescribed burn, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021. The day's weather conditions of overcast skies and high relative humidity forced the cancelation of the burn after the sagebrush, juniper, pinyon pine and gambel oak would not catch fire. Utah's national forests are ramping up their use of controlled burning to improve forest health.
Brian Maffly has worked for The Tribune off and on since 1994. Maffly roams Utah, covering public land and environment.