Fire Restriction Order by Utah DNR

Due to current and forecasted weather conditions coupled with the extremely dry conditions in Washington County, the State Forester, in consultation with the county commission, has determined that measures must be taken to prevent the ignition of forest and rangeland fires. Therefore, pursuant to Utah State Law, Section 65A-8-212, the following acts are prohibited in the areas described below until rescinded by the Utah State Forester and the County Commission:

  1. Setting, building, maintaining, attending or using open fires of any kind, except within the facilities designated for them in improved campgrounds, picnic areas or home sites where running water is present.
  2. 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.
  3. Discharging or using any kind of fireworks, tracer ammunition or other pyrotechnic devices including exploding targets.
  4. Cutting, welding or grinding metal in areas of dry vegetation.
  5. Operating a motorcycle, chainsaw, ATV, or other small internal combustion engine without an approved and working spark arrestor.

The following persons are exempted from the above prohibitions:

  1. Persons with a permit or waiver specifically authorizing a specified act at a specific location.
  2. Any on-duty firefighter in the performance of an official duty.

Area Description:

All unincorporated private and all state lands within the following area:

  • Washington County

This order does not affect private lands within incorporated towns or city limits.

Effective Date: 12:01 am, 20th day of June, 2017

Any of the above acts is a violation of state law and is punishable by up to 6 months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. These restrictions will be enforced by county law enforcement.

RESOLUTION NO. R-2017-2214

A RESOLUTION OF WASHINGTON COUNTY ADOPTING THE FIRE RESTRICTIONS PROPOSED BY THE STATE FORESTER

WHEREAS, Washington County (“County”) recognizes the fire threat that naturally caused weather conditions pose to people and property within the County; and

WHEREAS, the County has participated in a cooperative agreement with the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands (FFSL) to manage wild fire risk; and

WHEREAS, FFSL has flagged the current weather conditions in Washington County as high risk for fires; and

WHEREAS, FFSL has proposed to Washington County a set of temporary fire restrictions aimed at minimizing the risk of human caused wild fires;

WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of the residents of Washington County that the temporary fire restrictions be approved.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNTY COMMISSION OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, UTAH, that the fire restriction order proposed by the State Forester, attached as Exhibit A, is hereby adopted.

VOTED UPON AND PASSED BY THE WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMISSION AT A REGULAR MEETING OF THE WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMISSION HELD ON THE 20th DAY OF JUNE, 2017.

Old Highway 91 Road Work from Mile Post 4 to Mile Post 16

Road work will resume Monday June 19th on a road project to improve the safety of Old Highway 91 in Washington County from Mile Post 4 to Mile Post 16 on the road from Ivins, Utah to Littlefield, Arizona. Work is expected to cause traffic delays until completion in mid- July 2017.

Work will consist of installing guardrail. No overnight or complete road closures are anticipated. Delays of 15 minutes or more will be common due to lane restrictions and potential safety concerns in the work zones. The work area is 12 miles long and work crews could be working at many different locations throughout the project. Reduced speeds will be enforced through the work areas.

Please make your travel plans anticipating these delays. The public is encouraged to use Interstate 15 through the Virgin River Gorge as their main travel way during this period of time to allow the construction crews to work and increase safety in the work zones.

Notice of Vacancies — North Central Fire Special Service District Administrative Control Board

NOTICE is hereby given, pursuant to Utah Code Unannotated Section 17B-1-304(2), that there are two (2) vacancies on the North Central Fire Special Service District Administrative Control Board. These positions are appointed by the Washington County Commission.

To qualify for appointment to that Board, an individual must meet the following qualifications:

  1. Be a U.S. Citizen;
  2. Be a qualified elector (registered voter) in the area represented by the North Central Fire Special Service District

Those wishing to serve on the North Central Fire Special Service District Administrative Control Board should submit a Notice of Candidacy form (click here to download) to the Washington County Commission no later than Wednesday July 19, 2017. You may also pick up an application at the County Commission Office:

County Commission 
c/o Cheyenne Bentley
111 East Tabernacle Street
St. George, Utah 84770
(Google Maps)

Forms may be submitted by the following options:

Questions may be addressed to Cheyenne Bentley at (435) 301-7000.

The County Commission will consider the nominees for appointment to this board at a regularly scheduled County Commission meeting on Tuesday, August 1, 2017.

Published in The Spectrum June 12 – 16, 2017

Billing:
Washington County Commission
111 East Tabernacle
St. George, UT 84770
Account #: 1359

Public Hearing for Dammeron Valley Fire Special Service District

WASHINGTON COUNTY PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

Notice is Hereby Given that the Board of Commissioners of Washington County will hold a public hearing regarding the expansion of services offered by the Dammeron Valley Fire Special Service District to include limited recreation. The DMF SSD shall continue to provide fire protection services as well as limited recreational services specifically for the park in the Dammeron Valley area located on the same parcel as the fire station.

Hearing

A public hearing will be held by the Board of Commissioners of Washington County on Tuesday, July 18, 2017, at 7:00 pm, located at:

Dammeron Valley Fire Station #13
1261 North Dammeron Valley Drive East
Dammeron Valley, UT 84783
(Google Maps)

Individuals with speech and/or hearing impairments may call the Relay Utah by dialing 711. Spanish Relay Utah: 1-888-346-3162.

Published in The Spectrum newspaper on June 10, 17, 24 and July 1, 2017

Posted in conjunction with publishing:

  1. State of Utah Website for Public Meeting Notices
  2. Washington County Administration Building
  3. Washington County Library Buildings