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Fire officials urge homeowners to create defensible space; neighborhood cleanup set for June 7
Summary
Provo Fire Department outlined wildfire risk in urban-interface areas, urged residents to create defensible space and signed up volunteers for a June 7 hillside mitigation project at Lions Park.
Fire Captain Judy Atherton of the Provo Fire Department told the Provo City Grandview Community Council on Monday that homes bordering undeveloped slopes are at elevated risk from wind-driven embers and urged residents to create defensible space around properties.
Atherton said defensible space “creates a buffer between the surrounding environment and your home” and also “protects the firefighters in our department because it gives us time to get in and respond.” The department showed photos and a short video illustrating how clearing brush can open sight lines and reduce combustible material on hillsides.
The presentation named Grandview Hill above Lions Park as a priority mitigation site. Atherton reviewed a volunteer project the city organized on Aug. 12, 2023, saying 56 volunteers contributed more than 300 hours and crews removed seven or eight 20-yard dumpsters of debris. The district plans to repeat that work on Saturday, June 7; residents were asked to sign up at the meeting or via a posted QR code.
Atherton also encouraged residents to sign up for emergency alerts and offered free home assessments to identify ways to improve property defensibility. She said the department can perform voluntary home evaluations to recommend trimming, spacing and other actions to reduce risk.
Council co-chair Beth Hedgren framed the cleanup as a neighborhood safety priority and said the council will collect volunteer service hours that can be exchanged with the city for up to $7,500 in community funds. Residents asked about additional clearing on the south side of Grandview Hill; council members and staff said they would follow up with parks and fire officials to map access and scope.
The presentation emphasized individual and coordinated neighborhood work rather than new local regulations: Atherton repeatedly described defensible-space measures as homeowner actions that slow fire spread and buy time for responders.
Volunteer sign-up details, the QR code for emergency alerts and the offer of free home assessments were posted for attendees. The council’s service-hour program and the June 7 workday are the next actionable items raised at the meeting.
