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Council authorizes cooperative wildfire agreement with state to preserve suppression coverage
Summary
Emigration Canyon approved Resolution R2026‑11 to execute a cooperative agreement with the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands—staff said the agreement secures state coverage for wildfire suppression costs and leverages ongoing UFA mitigation work; vote was 4‑0.
City Attorney Cameron Platt explained the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands (FFSL) revised its interpretation of House Bill 48 and now expects municipalities to execute a cooperative agreement providing access to state wildfire suppression coverage. Platt said the agreement favors FFSL but yields a major benefit: state coverage for wildfire suppression costs that would otherwise fall entirely to the municipality.
Chief Roger Beckman told the Council Emigration Canyon already meets the agreement's mitigation requirements through its partnership with the Unified Fire Authority—Firewise activities, chipper days and Community Wildfire Stewardship projects—and staff judged the City's risk under the agreement to be minimal if those activities continue. Council Member Robert Pinon moved to approve Resolution R2026‑11; the motion passed 4‑0 with Council Member Catherine Harris absent.
