The Provo City Council unanimously approved a resolution imposing fire restrictions Tuesday, citing hazardous environmental conditions.

The notice of fire restrictions, signed by Lynn Schofield, Provo City fire marshal, on May 18, states that effective May 19, fires are prohibited in the Provo City watershed except in approved fire pits located in improved campgrounds and picnic areas, as well as permanent fire pits within residential properties.

The restricted area includes all mountains and canyons beginning at the Springville City line, extending along the east bench to the Provo City line and along Provo Canyon up to and including South Fork. Violations of this fire restrictions order are considered a class B misdemeanor.

“These restrictions are put in place to protect the Provo City water supply,” states the notice of fire restrictions. “Due to the persistent drought, and the need to protect our wildland urban interface and available water supply, it is incumbent on each of us to decrease the risk of catastrophic fire.”

The fire restrictions were enacted on May 19 for a period of 30 days but required Provo City Council approval to be extended after that point.

“This would basically prohibit fires in the watershed in Provo with the exception of fire pits located in improved campgrounds and picnic areas, and within permanent fire pits within residential properties,” said James Miguel, Provo fire chief. “This will eliminate all (agricultural) burning. … What we’re particularly concerned about are fires for entertainment that are taking place outside of campgrounds.”

According to Miguel, Provo Fire & Rescue is particularly concerned about illicit fires in areas like Rock Canyon and Squaw Peak.

“We seem to have a lot of people that will carry in pallets, those kinds of things, and make a makeshift fire ring, and we are trying to prohibit those for the rest of the summer,” he said.

According to the resolution made by the Provo City Council, these fire restrictions will remain in effect until rescinded in writing by a fire code official.

“It does not last forever; it will be until the snow falls basically,” Miguel said. “We normally follow the National Forest Service recommendations, and so when they tell us that they believe that the fuel moistures are high enough that they drop their restrictions, we’ll drop ours.”

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