Sweetwater County adopts Stage 1 fire restrictions as drought continues

The Sweetwater County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 13 adopted a countywide Stage 1 fire restriction, citing a continuing regional drought and critically low fuel-moisture readings. Allen Adams, the county fire warden, told the board, "We are in severe drought in our region," and recommended the county mirror neighboring agencies already under restriction.

Adams told commissioners he provided three drafts of a resolution and said the BLM and Ashley National Forest had moved to Stage 1. The adopted measure follows the BLMand neighboring jurisdictions by prohibiting discharge of fireworks and most outdoor fires in unimproved areas while allowing campfires at residences or campsites "only in a fire ring centered with a minimum of 15-foot clearance of burnable materials," charcoal in enclosed grills, and certain metal-cutting or welding operations when spark arresters are used. Commissioners amended language to align with state land-development rules and to specify a 15-foot clearance before voting.

The chair put the motion to a voice vote; all present commissioners voted in favor and the chair announced the motion passed unanimously. The resolution was recorded as Resolution 2025-08-CC-4 (option 3, as amended). The commissioners asked staff to circulate the final text to media and the public to avoid confusion about the rule and local exemptions.

The restriction was set to remain in effect through the next commission meeting period, with commissioners planning to revisit or rescind the order if conditions change. Allen Adams said federal and local partners have varying end dates; Ashley National Forest listed an end date of Oct. 30 in his remarks, while BLM restrictions remained open-ended "until further notice."