"Because there is not a single cause — it's not all fireworks, it's not all campfires, it's not all machinery — the only thing we can think of is people are not aware of how extreme conditions are or they're being careless, or it's a combination of both," Dunford said. "People really need to take a look at the conditions out here and how easily fires start and how fast they grow and how difficult they are to contain."

Fighting fires can be a costly business, too, Dunford said. The Mercer fire alone has cost about $1 million, Dunford estimated. Sometimes the state can receive money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. But in most cases, taxpayers foot the bill — unless law enforcement officials catch those who start wildfires, in which case the perpetrators pay the bill.

Commissioner Scott Duncan, of Utah's Department of Public Safety, is quick to point out that using illegal fireworks — those that shoot higher or farther than 15 feet — is a misdemeanor offense. But if prosecutors can prove who started a fire, the punishment can be expensive.

"It depends on the proof that you have," Duncan said. "But more importantly than that is, civilly, they can be responsible for the money it costs to fight these fires. I don't think people realize that....I would assume if they can find out who started this one, they'd go after them."

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