SALT LAKE CITY – Due to another year of severe drought, Color Country, Central Utah and Northern Utah Interagency Fire Managers are implementing fire restrictions beginning Monday, July 18, on all unincorporated county, state and federally administered public lands in several counties.
According to a news release from Utah Interagency Fire and the Bureau of Land Management, the Utah Color Country counties impacted include Washington, Iron, Garfield, Kane and Beaver.
Other counties and areas impacted around the state include Juab, Millard, Wayne, Piute, Sevier, Sanpete, Box Elder, Weber, Cache, Rich, Morgan, Davis, Salt Lake, Tooele, Utah, and BLM administered lands in Wasatch and Summit.
“Despite the recent monsoon storms, rainfall has not been widespread, and the majority of Utah remains in extreme drought,” said Bureau of Land Management Utah State Fire Management Officer Chris Delaney in the news release. “While the moisture we received was much needed, it has not been enough to reduce our wildland fire risk. We still need every Utahn to use their Fire Sense and to be a responsible public land user when enjoying the outdoors.”
While fire restrictions are in effect, the following acts are prohibited:
- Campfires or open fires outside of agency improved and maintained campgrounds and home sites; running water is required on cabins or homesites on unincorporated private land; devices fueled by liquid petroleum are allowed
- Discharging of fireworks or other pyrotechnic devices outside of incorporated city limits (city specific restrictions may apply)
- Shooting of exploding targets or tracer ammunition
- Cutting, grinding, or welding of metal in areas of dry vegetation; This includes acetylene torches
- Use of off-highway vehicle, chainsaw or internal combustion engines without a working and properly maintained spark arrestor (if required)
- No smoking near vegetation or outside of a developed recreation site, personal vehicle or building
- Use of any sky lanterns, Chinese lanterns, fire balloons, acetylene balloons or similar device
Interagency Fire organization reminds citizens to “be aware that fire restrictions will differ slightly among agencies, and these restrictions do not apply to incorporated cities. Before visiting, please check the specific fire restrictions with the respective land management agency.”
Local, state and federal fire officials urge Utahns to use their “Fire Sense” to help prevent unwanted wildfires, the news release said. “Fire Sense” is an interagency fire awareness campaign implemented last year to increase public knowledge about how to prevent wildland fires.
