Many of Utah's smaller communities and rural developments are built in forests, woodlands and rangelands that have not seen fire in more than one hundred years. The logical interpretation of this lack of fire is that the surrounding countryside is unlikely to burn. As the grass, brush, and trees continue to grow, however, fuels build up, and so does the corresponding fire danger, as experienced in Utah this summer. Having wildland fires is not a choice that anyone gets to make. Wildland fires can and will continue to burn, and in some cases they will take homes with them.
Fire plays a vital role in the wildlands of Utah.
Even if we could physically and economically remove fire from our landscape we probably wouldn't want to, because fire can do good things for Utah's forests and rangelands. We can choose to make our homes more resistant to wildfire. Remove these on a regular basis, depending on the type and amount of vegetation, within a minimum distance of 30 feet from your home. Move firewood, construction materials and other flammables at least 30 feet away from your home, especially during the summer. Enclose the eaves of your home with soffits and screen all vents and other openings.