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Laketown hears plan to adopt Utah WUI code to access suppression funds
Summary
A Rich County fire warden told Laketown officials they should adopt the 2006 Utah Wildland-Urban Interface code to remain eligible for state suppression funding; town staff were asked to work with the presenter on ordinance, mapping and a community wildfire plan.
Travis Hobbs, Rich County fire warden and a representative of Utah Forestry, Fire and State Lands, urged the Laketown Town Council on Feb. 4 to adopt the 2006 Utah Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Code required by House Bill 48 and to develop a WUI map and updated community wildfire protection plan.
Hobbs told the council that, given Laketown’s history with wildfires, the town is eligible for a state suppression fund that would not require local financial contribution and recommended the town remain enrolled in the Cooperative Wildfire System (CWS) program. He offered to help staff with mapping and drafting ordinance language, suggesting the council could adapt a template already prepared by BRAG.
The recommendation prompted a staff follow-up: Lisa Johnson, the town clerk, was assigned to work with Hobbs to draft an ordinance, prepare a WUI map and update the community wildfire protection plan. Council members discussed the three discrete work items Hobbs identified — code adoption, map production and plan update — but did not take a formal vote to adopt code at the meeting.
Why it matters: adoption of the WUI code would change how Laketown reviews development in high-risk areas and could unlock state-funded suppression resources. Council members expressed interest in pursuing the technical mapping and plan work before considering formal ordinance adoption.
The council recorded the action item and expects staff and Hobbs to return with draft materials for future consideration; no adoption vote was taken Feb. 4.
