With Salt Lake County's foothills and canyons primed for an "Oakland type" wildfire, Commissioner Randy Horiuchi implemented an emergency fire mitigation plan Wednesday.
"Our expectation is that this summer and summers yet to come all of the factors are in place for a disastrous fire," Horiuchi said, citing eight years of drought, dry brush, the prospect of canyon winds and urban encroachment up the mountains. The county's mitigation plan includes:- A prohibition against all open burning in unincorporated county areas except for strictly controlled agricultural purposes.
- A prohibition against recreational fires or barbecues in the canyons within 25 feet of a structure or combustible material unless contained in a barbecue pit.
- Possible restrictions on access to the canyons during critical conditions.