Rich County fire warden presents HB48 high-risk map; urges adoption of 2006 WUI code and local mitigation
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Summary
Fire warden Travis Hobbs showed a new House Bill 48 high-risk map that identifies roughly 400 county structures in a wildland-urban interface zone, recommended adopting the 2006 Utah WUI code, and proposed training county crews and adjusting inspection and fee policies to comply with the law.
Travis Hobbs, Rich County’s fire warden, told the commission on Jan. 7 that an initial Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) map prepared under House Bill 48 identifies about 400 county structures as high-risk and will require county action to comply with the law. "I think 400 is a really good number," Hobbs said while showing the county map and explaining how the model accounts for fuel loading, topography and structure density.
Hobbs outlined practical consequences for residents and county staff. Under the current draft, inspections tied to the program would cost between $20 and $100 per home for the first two years; larger homes would be at the top of that scale. Hobbs said inspections will be triaged: properties that do not request inspections will start at a higher fee level and may see their fees reduced after they are inspected.
The fire warden urged the commission to adopt the 2006 Utah WUI code at the county level so town and county permit decisions align with state requirements and so the county remains eligible for mitigation funding. "This is the 2006 code," Hobbs said, adding that adopting it would give the building inspector clearer standards to apply to new construction in high-risk areas.
Commissioners discussed practical support for smaller communities within the county, with Hobbs offering to assist with inspections in places that will see only a handful of permits. Hobbs also suggested training county road and maintenance crews and placing equipment on state contracts so the county can bill time spent assisting on wildfires and mitigation efforts.
The commission did not adopt the code during the meeting but directed staff to continue work on a county map, consult with legal counsel, and fold WUI requirements into upcoming planning and development code updates. Hobbs and planning staff agreed to prepare a formal ordinance draft and to consult the county attorney about steps required for formal adoption.