Officials in Summit County are watching for conditions that could create a fire risk high enough to warrant implementation of restrictions that are already in place in much of the state.
When those conditions are met, Summit County Fire Warden Bryce Boyer plans to make a joint request with officials from other counties in northeast Utah for a Stage 1 fire restriction order. The other counties that potentially could be part of the request are Wasatch, Duchesne, Daggett and Uintah.
Utah State Forester Jamie Barnes, who also is the director of the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, issues the orders, and putting in one request for multiple counties would streamline the process, Boyer said. In addition, having the whole region under the restrictions at the same time would cut down on public confusion, he said.
Stage 1 restrictions ban:
- Open fires of any kind except within established public facilities in improved campgrounds, picnic areas or in permanently constructed fire pits at private homes where running water is present.
- Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, trailer or building, a developed recreation site or while stopped in an area that is paved or free from dry vegetation.
- Discharging or using any fireworks, tracer ammunition or other pyrotechnic devices including exploding targets.
- Cutting, welding or grinding metal in areas of dry vegetation.
- Operating a motorcycle, chainsaw, ATV, or other small internal combustion engine without an approved and working spark arrestor
Summit County did not have any firework restrictions on July 4. Boyer said there were no calls about fires started by fireworks.