BOX ELDER COUNTY - July 18, 2022
Effective immediately Box Elder County, along with Cache, Rich and Weber counties, will be under a Stage 1 Fire Restriction Order, according to a press release from the State of Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands.
"Due to current and forecasted weather conditions, coupled with the extremely dry vegetation conditions in Northern Utah, the State Forester, in consultation with the county commission of each of the affected counties, has determined that measures must be taken to prevent the ignition of forest and rangeland fires," the press released stated.
Those measures include the following:
No open fires of any kind except within established public facilities in improved campgrounds, picnic areas or in permanently constructed fire pits at private homes where running water is available.
No smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, trailer or building, a developed recreation site or while stopped in an area that is paved or free from dry vegetation.
No discharging or using any fireworks, tracer ammunition or other pyrotechnic devices, including exploding targets.
No cutting, welding or grinding metal in areas of dry vegetation.
No operating a motorcycle, chainsaw, ATV or other small internal combustion engine without an approved and working spark arrestor.
Violation of this order is punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine up to $1,000, and will be enforced by county law enforcement officers. Exempt from these prohibited measures are persons with a permit or waiver issued by the Division. Such a waiver does not relieve the permittee from liability should a fire occur, however. Also exempt are on-duty firefighters performing official duties.
This order does not affect private lands that lie within incorporated towns or in city limits.