Fire hazards spark restrictions west of I-15

An expansive series of fire restrictions will take effect next week, banning flames, sparks and smoking on all lands west of Interstate 15.

The restrictions also extend to all of Washington County.

"It's obviously really dry out there, and we've had some really good fires on the west side of I-15," said Susan Marzec with the Bureau of Land Management. "We want to be ahead of the Fourth of July, so when people go out they really understand what's in place."

The ban goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, June 25. It includes:

• Open flames except within approved fire pits and grills in improved campgrounds and picnic areas.

• Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, camp trailer, building or developed recreation site.

• Fireworks, tracer ammunition or other incendiary devices.

• Permits are required to cut, weld or grind metal in areas of dry vegetation on state lands.

Fire officials also urged caution for people to take their off-highway vehicles out into Utah's backcountry.

"People have a tendency to leave the trails," said Kathy Jo Pollock with the U.S. Forest Service. "Once they hit those tall grasses, the heat from the engine can spark something. Individuals need to be responsible and stay on trails."

The fire restrictions include portions of the Wasatch-Cache, Uinta, Dixie and Fish Lake national forests. The Stansbury and Vernon mountains are included.

Areas east of I-15 are not included because vegetation that fuels wildfires has not reached a stage where restrictions are necessary. While fire restrictions occur yearly in Utah, Marzec said the order also gives law enforcement the authority to fine people who violate it.

"It provides a little more of a hammer," she said Thursday. "It's an official order."

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E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com