Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Wildfire Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Scofield hears state WUI briefing as town weighs signing agreement that could add property fees
Summary
A state fire warden told the Scofield council about House Bill #48 and a Wildland-Urban Interface program that would require Scofield to adopt WUI code by December 2026; the program could impose square-foot fees ($25–$200) on property tax bills and affect insurance coverage. The council deferred signing pending review of county code.
Jeramy Jorgensen, a fire technician and wildlands fire warden covering Carbon and Emery counties, briefed the Scofield Town Council on May 11 about House Bill #48 and the State's Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) program. Jorgensen said Scofield is part of the State Collective Wildfire System and that the state agreement would make the state financially responsible for fires that begin inside town limits and then spread to private land. He provided a printed handout and directed residents to two state websites for more information.
Why it matters: Jorgensen said structures must meet Forestry, Fire and State Lands (FFSL) requirements and that the program would allow a state-collected fee assessed by square footage of a structure to be placed on county property tax bills; he estimated fees would be about $25 to $200 per structure. He also told the council that building inspectors must follow WUI code now and that Scofield must formally adopt the WUI code before December 2026 to participate under the state framework. He cautioned that some homeowners insurers may cancel policies if homes do not meet the new standards.
Council reaction was cautious. Mayor Jim Levanger said the town should review the county code before signing any state agreement and asked for time to check how county administration would implement fees and collections. Local commenter Paul Bedont raised questions about liability if a fire that starts in town spreads onto county or federal land and noted that the town’s Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating is a 5 (where 1 is best and 10 indicates limited protection), which can influence insurance premiums. No council vote was taken; the mayor directed staff to examine county rules before proceeding further.
Details recorded in the briefing include the requirement to adopt the WUI code by December 2026, the projected fee range ($25–$200 applied by square foot and collected on county tax bills), and the statement that the fee collected is a state fee routed through the county to the state. Jorgensen also provided materials the public can copy and distribute.
Next steps: The council did not sign the state agreement on May 11 and asked staff to review county code and return with recommendations. If the council later decides to sign the agreement, the town will need to adopt the WUI code before the December 2026 deadline and communicate potential insurance and fee impacts to property owners.
