Wildland/Urban Interface Rules Discussed

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter

Rich Civic Times 

RANDOLPH, Utah.  May 6, 2015. Ted Black, Chief Deputy , State Fire Wildland /Urban Interface of the Division  of Natural Resources, told County Commissioners that  there were changes to the Wildland/Interface Code to make it more responsive to rural counties.  This code is administered by the Division of Wildlife Resources. 

Black said that the majority of counties use the same ordinances, but one size does not fit all.  For example if a rancher wants to build a small shack for lambing season, the rancher has to meet the same building codes as a house in the city.   Now a building of less than 1000 square feet which is not being built near municipal services can be built without building permits.  It is not the intent to circumvent building requirements near cities and towns but to make it easier for people to do their work in rural areas. 

Another code change is that all weather access roads are required in the code for fire suppression, but in rural areas, some roads are closed in the winter but they still work for local fire suppression that mostly is needed in the summer. That requirement has been eliminated.  The roads only need to be approved by the commission to be considered fire suppression roads.

Black gave the definition of Wildland /Urban Interface as areas where a wild fire would significantly impact water shed, the economy of the jurisdiction and where the natural beauty of the area would be severely impacted or destroyed by a wild fire.  Areas in close proximity to national or state forest, or other forested areas may also be considered as part of the interface.  Areas where fire is a regular part of the eco system (areas that burn almost annually) and areas where a fire would have little impact on the community, and would not impact the economy or water shed should not be considered part of the wildland-urban interface. The department of Natural Resources has assigned a Fire Warden to each county as a resource in wild fire related issues.

It is encouraged that property owners create a defensible space,  that is defined as an area either natural or man-made where material capable of allowing a fire to spread unchecked has been treated cleared or modified to slow the rate and intensity of an advancing wildfire and to create an area for fire suppression operations to occur.

It is not a clear cut around a structure, a fire break around a structure , devastation of the forest or the removal of all vegetation.

 Much of Rich county should not be designated as a interface area.  Just the areas which meet the designation criteria.