News Article Viewer

Fire Department

Fire Restriction Order

Due to current and forecasted weather conditions coupled with the record dry vegetation conditions and extreme fire danger throughout Utah, the State Forester has determined that measures must be taken to prevent the ignition of forest and rangeland fires. Therefore, pursuant to Utah State Law, Section 65A-8-212, the following acts (also known as "Stage 1 Fire Restrictions) are prohibited in the areas described below until rescinded by the Utah State Forester:

1. No open fires of any kind except within established facilities in improved campgrounds or day-use areas on public lands. -OR-In permanently constructed fire pits at permanent private dwellings served by pressurized running water.

2. 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.

3. Cutting, welding or grinding metal in areas of dry vegetation.

4. Operating a motorcycle, chainsaw, ATV, or other small internal combustion engine without an approved and working spark arrestor.

This  applies to all state lands -AND-all unincorporated private lands within the state of Utah. This order does not affect private lands within incorporated towns or city limits.

There is also a Fireworks restriction in place for all state-owned lands -AND-all unincorporated private lands within the state of Utah that restricts the discharging or using any kind of fireworks. You can view the restriction order by clicking here.

Gov. Spencer Cox made a plea Tuesday evening on June 15th for Utahns to ditch private firework displays this July as Utah nears its traditional fireworks season stating "I would encourage you to not do fireworks this year — just save them for next year, especially aerial fireworks," he said. "It's just not worth it. You don't want to burn your house down, your neighbor's house down or start a large fire that ends burning potentially thousands of acres." (Carter Williams, KSL.com 2021).

To view the firework restrictions map for Washington City please visit WashingtonCity.org/maps.

You can view all of the Active Fire Restrictions for Utah by clicking here.

Gov. Cox also reiterated the importance of cutting back on the water used for lawns stating the drought this year is either the worst since 1956 or worst on record depending on the metrics used. He referred to the Utah State University Extension experts that stated between 50% and 65% of annual municipal water use goes toward lawns; Pointing out the average quarter-acre lot in Utah uses about 3,000 gallons of water for every watering cycle. (Carter Williams, KSL.com 2021).

He asked residents in southern Utah to water three times a week, with a prioritization toward trees and plants over lawns."We need you to conserve even more," he said. "We're going to have some yellow lawns this year, maybe even some brown ones. That's OK. Our grass is very resilient, it'll go dormant and come back next year. It's OK if our lawns aren't as beautiful as they have been in years past. It's kind of a badge of honor this year if our grass isn't green." (Carter Williams, KSL.com 2021).

Fire Department  

WashingtonCity.org/fire

Works Cited:

Carter Williams, KSL.com. 2021. “‘Just Not Worth It’: Cox Pleads with Utahns to Cut Back on Private Fireworks This Year.” Ksl.Com. June 15, 2021. https://www.ksl.com/article/50187171/just-not-worth-it-cox-pleads-with-utahns-to-cut-back-on-private-fireworks-this-year.


Latest on Instagram:

Washington City Utah | (435) 656-6300
letusknow@washingtoncity.org
111 North 100 East | Washington, Utah 84780 [map]
© 2024 Washington City Corporation. All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy

Connect with Washington City: