Utah Statewide Rule
Utah Wildland-Urban Interface and State Forester Authority
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Utah Code 65A-8 and 65A-8a
- Authority
- State forester (FFSL)
- Area closures
- Section 65A-8-212
- Closed fire season
- Section 65A-8-211
- WUI code
- Chapter 8a; local adoption
Summary
Utah Code Title 65A, Chapter 8 grants the state forester authority over wildfire prevention statewide, including closed fire season declarations, restricted fire areas, and the Wildland Urban Interface program coordinating municipal mitigation standards.
65A-8-212. Power of state forester to close hazardous areas - Violations of an order closing an area. (1) (a) If the state forester finds conditions in a given area in the state to be extremely hazardous, "extremely hazardous" means categorized as "extreme" under a nationally recognized standard for rating fire danger, he shall close those areas to any forms of use by the public, or to limit that use, except as provided in Subsection (5). (b) The closure shall include, for the period of time the state forester considers necessary, the prohibition of open fires, and may include restrictions and prohibitions on: (i) smoking; (ii) the use of vehicles or equipment; (iii) welding, cutting, or grinding of metals; (iv) subject to Subsection (5), fireworks; (v) explosives; or (vi) the use of firearms for target shooting.
Full Breakdown
Utah Code Title 65A, Chapter 8 places primary wildfire-prevention authority with the Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands and the state forester. Under Section 65A-8-212, when the state forester finds conditions extremely hazardous, the forester may close areas to public use and prohibit open fires and other activities; violating a closure order is an offense. Section 65A-8-211 sets the closed fire season and burn-permit rules. Section 65A-8-203 lets counties and municipalities enter cooperative agreements for state catastrophic-wildfire cost-sharing. The Wildland Urban Interface program is codified in Chapter 8a, under which local governments adopt the state WUI code and map hazard zones.
Violations & Penalties
Violating a state forester's area-closure order under Section 65A-8-212 is an offense; noncompliance with adopted WUI ignition standards may bar suppression cost-sharing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who designates wildfire hazard zones in Utah?
What can the state forester do in extreme fire danger?
Sources
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.