Utah Wildland-Urban Interface and State Forester Authority

Utah Code Title 65A, Chapter 8 places primary wildfire prevention authority with the Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands and the state forester. Section 65A-8-203 authorizes restricted fire areas where smoking, open flames, fireworks, and exploding targets may be prohibited statewide by proclamation. Section 65A-8a-203 establishes the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) program under which counties and municipalities adopt the state-approved WUI code, classify hazard zones, and qualify for state suppression cost-sharing. Local building and fire officials enforce defensible space and ignition-resistant construction within mapped WUI areas, but the framework is set by the state.

Violating a state restricted-fire-area proclamation is a class B misdemeanor under 65A-8-210; noncompliance with WUI ignition standards may bar cost-sharing reimbursement.