Davis fire break road halfway done

FARMINGTON — A dirt road designed to limit how wildfires may spread above Farmington and Centerville is about halfway complete, with more work expected in the fall.

Last year, Farmington, Davis County and the state of Utah worked together on a plan for widening the fire break road in the foothills above Farmington and Centerville.

The $50,000 project, paid for by Farmington, allowed Davis County public works crews to grade the road, which not only is designed to prevent fire from spreading, but also allows firefighting vehicles to access the hills.

The state kicked in its share of the project Tuesday with a $22,288 reimbursement to Farmington. The money will probably allow the city to finish a 500-yard section of the two-mile road above Farmington. About one mile remains to be completed above Centerville.

Kirk Schmalz, Davis County public works director, said he hopes to work on the portion above Centerville before bad weather hits. "I'm not sure how much we will be able to do there," he said, adding that the state's reimbursement funds expire at the end of the year.

— Joseph M. Dougherty