Drought and low snowpack raise wildfire risk as Trump’s budget creates a funding puzzle

Utah is staring down a tinder dry wildfire season that has already started and could come with big changes to its federal funding.

By: Annie Knox

Outlets: Utah News Dispatch

Published: April 10, 2026

Words: 756

Last Updated: 3 hours, 34 minutes ago

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With extreme drought gripping most of Utah and spring heat melting reserves of mountain snow to an all-time low, the state is staring down a tinder dry wildfire season that could come with big changes to its federal funding.

Maps of the national wildfire forecast show Utah covered in red by July — signifying higher than normal risk throughout the state — and with southern Utah getting there by June.

“It has …

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