Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Wildfire Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
State wildfire aid tied to adopting Wildland-Urban Interface code, staff tells Ephraim council
Summary
A state Department of Natural Resources representative told the Ephraim City Council that adoption of the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Code is a condition for wildfire suppression cost assistance; staff discussed local implications, grandfathering of existing homes, and a pending state bill that could require future updates.
Thomas Peterson of the Utah Department of Natural Resources told the Ephraim City Council on March 4 that state wildfire suppression cost assistance is tied to municipal adoption of the Wildland-Urban Interface Code and reviewed how a local ordinance would apply.
Peterson said new construction in designated high-risk areas would need to meet WUI-code defensible-space standards, while existing homes would be grandfathered. He told the council that most recently built homes in the city already meet the applicable standards and that property owners would be responsible for maintaining defensible space around their homes.
Why it matters: Adopting the WUI code would make Ephraim eligible for state suppression-cost assistance, which could reduce the local fiscal burden of large wildfires. Staff and the council also noted that House Bill 41 is pending at the state level and that if the state adopts the 2024 WUI Code, the city may need to update its local adoption to remain eligible for state programs.
Council members did not take final action on an ordinance at the meeting; the presentation was part of the study agenda. City staff asked the council to consider the scope of any local adoption and to track the progress of the pending state legislation before formalizing code language.
The council’s next regular meeting is scheduled for March 18, 2026, when staff may return with draft ordinance language if directed.
