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House approves measure allowing controlled burns for municipal firefighter training
Summary
The House passed HB 247 to allow municipalities to conduct up to two controlled burns a year (with an air‑quality exemption) to train local firefighters; an amendment limits burns during weather inversions (U.S. weather service clearing index threshold), and the bill passed the House 68–2.
House Bill 247, a measure requested by the League of Cities and Towns, passed the Utah House on Feb. 15, 1991, with the stated goal of permitting municipalities to conduct limited controlled burns to train volunteer and municipal fire personnel.
Sponsor Representative Tanner explained the bill allows communities that normally do not have frequent structure fires to conduct up to two controlled burns annually for training purposes. Representative Valentine clarified the bill’s practical effect: it creates an exemption from ambient air‑quality standards for up to two organized burns per year so fire departments can train under realistic conditions. The sponsor and other members emphasized the bill applies statewide but noted it likely would not be used in Salt Lake City/County because of the greater frequency of real fires there.
During questioning, Representative Beverly Evans asked whether the bill would affect controlled burns in industrial open pits associated with oil and gas operations; the sponsor answered the measure is limited to residential/municipal training burns and would require an organized fire department to conduct them. The House also inserted a technical amendment requiring that burns not be permitted when "the United States weather service clearing index is above 500," intended to prevent burns during inversion conditions and protect air quality.
After discussion and amendment, the House opened the vote and HB 247 as amended passed with 68 affirmative votes and 2 negative votes. The bill was forwarded to the Senate for further consideration.
