Rich County hears HB48 wildfire risk assessment; about 400 structures in high‑risk zone

Travis Hobbs, the county fire warden, presented the House Bill 48 Wildfire Risk Assessment map to the Rich County Commission on Jan. 7, 2026, saying approximately 400 structures are in the high‑risk Wildland‑Urban Interface zone, primarily near Garden City. He explained that property owners would pay between $20 and $100 annually for the first two years based on square footage, and that fees are likely to increase after 2028.

Commissioners discussed the need to adopt the 2006 Utah Wildland Urban Interface Code to participate in Cooperative Wildfire Systems (CWS). The commission record shows Mr. Hobbs will work with the county attorney and the planning administrator to incorporate the code into the county’s development ordinances. Officials also described that properties will begin at the highest risk level until inspected and that inspections are requested through the state website.

The meeting included agreement to provide county‑led fire inspections for Randolph, Woodruff, and Laketown at no charge and to explore adding county road equipment to the state contract for fire response. The Commission also discussed training road department employees so they can be deployed and reimbursed during fire emergencies. Next steps recorded: staff will draft ordinance language and return it for Planning Commission review and subsequent action by the County Commission.