Fire restrictions in place

Kayne Pyatt, Herald Reporter
Posted 7/2/21

Fireworks illegal in most of Uinta County

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Fire restrictions in place

Posted

EVANSTON — A special meeting of the Uinta County Commission was held at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 30, to discuss countywide fire restrictions, pay final bills for the 2020 fiscal year budget and vote on the fifth amendment to the 2021 budget.

Uinta County Fire Warden Eric Quinney addressed the commission.

“We are recommending Stage 1 fire restrictions be put into effect in Uinta County,” Quinney said. “The drought condition in southwest Wyoming is one of the driest in the state. Once a week the BLM is checking the moisture content and 120% of normal is considered burnable and less than 100% is critical. Last night, BLM tested samples from the Yellow Creek area and it is at 72%. Last week, we had several areas in Uinta County that were at critical level, which calls for fire restrictions.

Quinney said rain received in the last week was great but didn’t change the moisture samples, which continue to decrease each week and are still considered burnable and critical conditions. Quinney said a sample taken at the Bridger Valley airport was at 92% with critical conditions.

Fire restrictions have been announced on social media, Quinney said, and the feedback the agency received was very positive. He said people have also expressed their concerns over fireworks with the dry conditions.

Mountain View has completely banned fireworks and Lyman follows the county’s restrictions. The town of Bear River passed a ban on fireworks this week, Quinney said, the city of Evanston is only allowing fireworks on July 4, from 5 p.m. to midnight. He said the entire state of Utah has serious conditions and Salt Lake City has banned fireworks citywide.

“We know there are people that will say the government can’t tell me what to do,” Quinney said, “and we know that people will be coming up from Utah to buy fireworks and we don’t want them to go out in the county to discharge them. It only takes one mistake to get a fire started and our resources and budget are thin.”

Commissioner Brent Hatch asked Sheriff Doug Matthews if his office would be able to enforce the restrictions and Matthews said they would do the best they can.

“If people skirt the law and cause damage, there are recourses,” Quinney said. “We are doing our job responsibly and hope people will be responsible. You have the Stage 1 fire restrictions set by the State Board of Land Commissioners and we recommend you approve those for Uinta County.”

The Commission approved the Stage 1 restrictions for Uinta County. Quinney said WYDOT would put a notice on their highway sign, the fire department would put a notice on social media and alert local media.

Uinta County Clerk Amanda Hutchinson presented the budget amendment, which included two grants received for the airport for crack seal and seal coat. Both grants required matches from the county and had to be added to expenditures in the general fund. Hutchinson also advised the commission about some funds left from the COVID relief money that had been added to the budget; the Maternal Child Health (Best Beginnings) and Drug Court grants had been reduced; a Uinta County Sheriff’s Office grant for hazard pay was $1,400 short so that had to be recovered from the general fund.

The commission approved the budget amendment for fiscal year 2021, which began July 1, and runs through June 2022.

The commission then approved the voucher of final bills to be paid. Commissioner Mark Anderson recused himself from voting on the Superior Rental payment.

Stage 1 Fire Restrictions:

1. Discharge of fireworks and all outdoor fires are prohibited in unimproved areas.

2. Only campfires at residences or campsites, within a fire ring centered within a minimum of a 15 ft. cleared radius of burnable materials.

3. Trash or refuse fires between the hours of 6 p.m. and 8:00 am, inside containers provided with spark arresters and located within a cleared radius of a minimum of 15 ft. of burnable materials.

4. Charcoal fires within enclosed grills are permitted.

5. Use of acetylene cutting, electric arc welders, or metal grinding in a cleared radius of 15 ft. of burnable materials.

6. The use of portable stoves, lanterns using gas, jellied petroleum, pressurized liquid fuel or fully enclosed (sheepherder type) stove and open fire branding activities in a cleared radius of 15 ft. of burnable materials is permitted.