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Draper outlines local mitigation: fuel breaks, chipper days, evacuation planning and alerts
Summary
Draper Fire described expanded fuels‑reduction work — including a grant‑funded chipper, new fuel breaks and targeted roadside thinning — and urged residents to create 0–100 ft defensible space, register for city alerts and coordinate neighborhood chipper days.
Draper City Fire Department officials described a multi‑pronged local mitigation plan that pairs defensible‑space guidance with expanded city services to reduce wildfire risk in foothill neighborhoods.
Parker Hansen, the department’s full‑time fuels crew supervisor, described the tactical approach: "We're putting in fire brakes, fuel brakes. These are advantageous to us as a fire department where we can go in ... it's a strategic point where we can stop the fire essentially." He said crews are doing large strategic fuel breaks and targeted roadside thinning and mastication, focusing on roadsides because car fires and roadside ignitions are common start points.
Chief Clint Smith said the department secured a grant to buy a dedicated chipper, allowing the city to expand community chipper days. Residents can thin vegetation on their lots, place it at the curb and the city will chip it into mulch for reuse. Smith said the program makes fuels reduction more accessible and efficient for neighborhoods.
Smith and Parker offered an operational example: roadside mitigation on Mike Weir Drive limited a late‑season car fire to a small area, demonstrating the practical effect of thinning. The department also collects cut material in piles for later controlled burns in parks and other open spaces when conditions permit.
Evacuation and alerts: Smith introduced emergency management specialist Nick Roble and communications director Linda, who outlined evacuation planning (identify routes, meeting points and plans for people with mobility needs) and multi‑channel alerts. Residents were told to register for Notify Draper and with the Valley Emergency Communication Center (vec911/slvcc.com) to receive reverse‑911 notifications and wireless emergency alerts.
Takeaway and next steps: Smith urged residents to prioritize defensible space (immediate 0–5 ft, intermediate 5–30 ft, extended 30–100 ft), sign up for city alerts and contact the fire department at firedepartment@draperutah.gov to request guidance or schedule neighborhood chipper coordination.
