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Duchesne County extends drought declaration and approves cooperative wildfire agreement with state
Summary
Duchesne County Commissioners voted May 18 to extend a drought declaration and approved a cooperative agreement with the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands that designates the State Fire Warden to enforce Wildland Urban Interface provisions amid severe dry conditions.
Duchesne County Commissioners on May 18 extended Resolution #26-03, declaring a drought for the maximum time allowed under U.C.A. 17-78-307, and approved a cooperative agreement with the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands to coordinate wildfire response and WUI enforcement.
Fire Warden Brandon Peck and Emergency Management Director Josh Phillips presented the Uintah Basin Fire Zone’s Stage 1 and Stage 2 criteria, describing recent spotting behavior that they said is atypical for this time of year and arguing for continued communication between county and state fire officials. The Commission signaled support for restrictions given the severe drought conditions.
Commissioner Jeff Chugg moved to extend Resolution #26-03 and Commissioner Tracy Killian seconded; Commissioners Chugg, Killian and Chairman Greg Miles voted aye and the motion passed unanimously. The resolution cites U.C.A. 17-78-307 as the statutory basis for the declaration.
Separately, Fire Warden Peck explained a proposed cooperative agreement with the state that included discussion of an updated Wildland Urban Interface map and Section 9 (wildland fire cost actions). The Commission approved the agreement and, in Section 14, designated the State Fire Warden to enforce the county’s WUI code. Commissioner Tracy Killian made the motion to approve the cooperative agreement; Commissioner Jeff Chugg seconded and the vote was unanimous.
What happens next: county and state staff will coordinate potential implementation of Stage 1 or Stage 2 restrictions based on the agreement’s criteria and the evolving fire risk. No specific timeline for additional restrictions was set at the meeting.
