Fire Protection

Fire Prevention


Fire protection is the responsibility of the Fire Marshall and Uinta County Fire District. There are fire chiefs in Evanston, and Bridger Valley. In order to prevent fire it is everyone’s responsibility to protect themselves and their property against all hazards including fire.

We should be aware of the dangers of wild fire and how it can affect our property especially homes by range land and forested areas. Wild fire may affect homes in town also.

Protect your Dream from Wild Fire


The Wyoming State Forestry Division, Wyoming Office of Homeland Security (WOHS), Uinta County Fire District and the Uinta County Emergency Management Agency offer the following tips for protecting your home from wildfire.

Access to your home


  • Driveways and bridges must be strong enough to
  • carry heavy emergency vehicles, including bulldozers hauled on big trucks.
  • Be sure that dead-end roads and long driveways have turnaround areas wide enough for emergency vehicles. A typical fire truck needs a 45 foot turning radius.
  • Identify at least two exits from you neighborhood.
  • Clear flammable vegetation at least 10 feet from roads and five feet from driveways.
  • Cut back overhanging tree branches above roads.
  • Make sure your address is clearly visible from the road so firefighters can find your home.

Roof


  • Remove dead branches overhanging roof.
  • Remove any branches within 15 feet of chimney.
  • Clean all dead leaves and needles from roof and gutters.
  • Cover chimney outlet and stovepipe with nonflammable screen of ½ inch or smaller mesh.
  • Install a roof that meets a fire resistance classification of “Class C”or better.

Home construction


  • Build home away from ridge tops, canyons, and areas between high points on a ridge.
  • Build home at least 30 feet from your property line.
  • Use fire resistive building materials, especially on exterior.
  • Limit the size and number of windows that face large areas of vegetation.
  • Install only dual-paned or triple-paned windows and shutters.

Landscaping


  • Reduce the number of trees in heavily wooded areas.
  • Create a “defensible space” by removing all flammable vegetation a minimum of 30 feet from all structures and replacing with fire resistive plants.
  • Choose ornamental landscaping plants that are fire resistive.
  • Space native trees and shrubs at least 10 feet apart.
  • On slopes exceeding 55 degrees remove flammable vegetation out to 120 feet or more.
  • On trees taller than 18 feet, prune lower branches within ten feet of the ground.

Yard


  • Remove stacks of construction materials, pine needles, leaves and other debris from yard.
  • Stack woodpiles at least 15 feet from all structures and clear away flammable vegetation within 10 feet of woodpiles.
  • Locate Liquid Propane Gas tanks at least 50 feet from any structure and surround with 10 feet of clearance.
  • Contact your local fire department to see if open burning is permitted in your area; if so, obtain a burning permit.

Emergency water supply


  • If your water comes from a well, consider an emergency generator to operate the pump during a power failure.
  • Maintain an emergency water supply that meets fire department standards:
  • Consider getting a community water hydrant system.
  • Consider getting a cooperative emergency storage tank with neighbors.
  • Consider getting a minimum storage supply of 1,000 gallons on your property, fitted with a fire hose connection so firefighters can use it easily.
  • Clearly mark all emergency water sources.
  • Create easy firefighter access to your closest emergency water source.