Open burn season to close early in southwest Utah

SOUTHERN UTAH – Due to dry conditions, fire officials in southwest Utah are implementing the “closed fire season” early this year in unincorporated areas of Washington, Iron, Garfield, Kane and Beaver counties. The closure, which normally starts on June 1, will go into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Friday. Once the closure begins, debris burning without a permit will no longer be allowed in the unincorporated areas of those five counties.

Officials are making this proactive move in response to higher fire danger and an anticipated busy spring fire season. Already this year, several escaped debris burns have spread onto public lands as well as neighboring private land, threatening homes and the safety of the public. Fuel moisture tests have shown the light and medium fuels are drier than normal. The drier grasses and brush are not only easier to ignite but more challenging to extinguish once they are ignited.

Violation of the closed fire season is a class-B misdemeanor and can result in a fine of up to $2,500 and one year in jail.

The closed season is scheduled to end Oct. 31. At that time, yard, debris and field burning will once again be allowed as long as conditions permit.

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3 Comments

  • Brian May 7, 2014 at 10:09 am

    Sneak into a neighboring country with a hired coyote (who is carrying drugs and automatic weapons) and then commit identity theft: get lots of free services and financial support with almost zero chance of consequences. Burn yard debris in your backyard at the wrong time: spend up to a year in jail. Sounds fair and reasonable.

    • ladybugavenger May 7, 2014 at 3:42 pm

      bahahaha I know right.

  • Burton May 7, 2014 at 6:09 pm

    I do understand with the unbelievable dry conditions out west here we do need to be extremely careful and this is a pretty easy one to comply with. But I agree, here is why, 1, fail to do your job in responding to an international threat and four Americans end up being killed. No consequence. 2, lie to congress and blame it on a youtube video to try to cover it up. No consequence. 3, try to stack the deck with their party leaders on the investigation probe committee to protect them from the law. No consequence. But if one peasant starts a fire its jail time and restitution for the rest of their lives! How come the ones making all the constant regulations and laws are always exempt from complying themselves? Did I not just read an article on here for scheduled controlled burns in some of these particular counties? I cant remember how many times these “controlled burns” have gotten away from them. And what will be there consequence if/when one of these fires get away from them?

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