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Fire marshal outlines free home assessments, fuel-breaks and curbside chipping for high-risk foothill areas
Summary
The city’s Wildland-Urban Interface mitigation program offers free state-standard home assessments, a seasonal fuel-break crew working the Bonneville Shoreline Trail, and curbside chipping for qualifying homes adjacent to undeveloped land; fire staff also confirmed hydrant testing and sufficient reservoir supplies for firefighting.
Captain Jeannie Atherton of the fire marshal’s office described the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) mitigation program and resources available to residents living near undeveloped foothills. She defined defensible space, explained why buffers reduce ember spread and firefighter risk, and outlined three program components: city-managed fuel-breaks on public land, a seasonal six-person crew that performs thinning and trimming, and a curbside chipping and haul-off program for qualifying WUI homes.
Atherton said free home assessments (using the state assessment tool) are available by appointment; qualifying residents can request curbside chipping where the crew will remove vegetative fuels and haul them for composting. She noted the department runs annual hydrant-pressure testing and that the city has “millions of gallons” available for firefighting, and she invited residents to scan a QR code or request neighborhood meetings for tailored outreach.
Residents raised local concerns about fireworks near foothill apartments and asked whether signage/enforcement could be changed; Atherton agreed to raise that with the fire marshal and to coordinate with code enforcement where appropriate. She encouraged residents in high-risk areas to sign up for assessments and follow department social-media posts for seasonal guidance.
