First fires, now floods.

Utah’s wildfire season isn’t over when the flames are out. As monsoon storms move across the state this week, fresh burn scars are turning into flash flood hazards, leaving communities to contend with a second disaster.

• Beaver is still reeling after weekend flooding damaged nearly 200 homes. Another Flash Flood Warning on Tuesday prompted a Level 3 “Go” evacuation order near the Beaver River, while Beaver Canyon is closed indefinitely. Beaver County declared a local state of emergency, opening the door to FEMA assistance as residents continue recovering from flood damage caused by runoff from the Cottonwood Fire burn scar. [KSL, FOX 13, ABC4]
• The long-term risks: Recently burned landscapes can remain vulnerable to dangerous flooding for three to five years because scorched soil and lost vegetation can’t absorb rainfall the way healthy landscapes can. [Salt Lake Tribune]
• The University of Utah is preparing before the next storm. Employees and volunteers filled 2,000 sandbags and installed 700 feet of concrete barriers above Huntsman Cancer Institute. Officials say the Bonneville Fire burn scar above campus could funnel water and debris downhill if moderate rain develops. [Salt Lake Tribune]
• What to watch: Another surge of monsoonal moisture could bring widespread showers and thunderstorms today in northern Utah. [ABC4]

Babylon Fire Cause Confirmed

Utah’s largest wildfire in nearly a decade was caused by a lightning strike on June 25, according to federal investigators. The Babylon Fire has burned more than 107,000 acres near Monticello and is now 95% contained after weeks of firefighting. [KSL]

New Nursing School in Sandy

A new private nursing school, Chamberlain University, is opening in Sandy this fall, offering an accelerated three-year bachelor’s degree. The expansion comes as Utah ranks last in the nation for nurses per capita for the second year in the row. [Salt Lake Tribune]

Baby Warthogs at the Zoo

Hogle Zoo’s first-ever warthog piglets are now making their public debut. The pair, Chad and Wharton, were born in June. [Utah’s Hogle Zoo]

Is 900 South Too Cool to Fail?

Is 900 South in Salt Lake City too cool to fail? We think so, which is why we're hosting our annual 801 Day party there on Saturday, Aug. 1 at the Milk Block! We explore the pieces that make this street such a success. [City Cast Salt Lake 🎧]