Wildland Fire Management, Utah Exec. Order No. 2015-5

This document was published in the July 15, 2015, issue (Vol. 2015, No. 14) of the Utah State Bulletin.

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Governor, Administration: Wildland Fire Management, Utah Exec. Order No. 2015-5

Issued: June 29, 2015

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EXECUTIVE ORDER

Wildland Fire Management

WHEREAS, the danger from wildland fires is high throughout the State of Utah;

WHEREAS, below-normal precipitation in central and southern Utah has contributed to the early drying of wildland vegetation;

WHEREAS, some of the potential fire dangers areas are extremely remote, inaccessible and in the even to a wildfire occurring the situation has the potential to deteriorate if left unattended;

WHEREAS, the potential for large fire occurrence is increasing regionally as the wildland vegetation completes curing in the wake of the recent hot and dry weather;

WHEREAS, immediate action is required to suppress the fire conditions and mitigate potential post-burn destruction. This destruction can lead to mudslides and flash floods causing dangerous conditions for life safety, property, natural resources and the environment;

WHEREAS,The National Weather Service is predicting a persistent hot dry pattern of weather for the foreseeable future;

WHEREAS, the eleven Interagency Hotshot Firefighting Crews and two of the five Type 2 Incident Management Teams located in the Great Basin Geographic Area are assigned to active wildfire incidents;

WHEREAS, the National Wildfire Planning Level has been elevated to a Planning Level 3, and the Regional Wildfire Planning Level is elevated to Planning Level 2, indicating the potential firefighting resources will be scarcity; and

WHEREAS, these conditions do create the potential for a disaster emergency within the intent of the Disaster Response and Recovery Act of 1981,

NOW THEREFORE, I, Gary R. Herbert, Governor of the State of Utah by virtue of the power vested in me by the constitution and the laws of the State of Utah, do hereby order that:

It is found, determined and declared that a "State of Emergency" exists statewide due to the threat to public safety, property, critical infrastructure, natural resources and the environment for thirty days, effective as of July 1, 2015 requiring aid, assistance and relief available pursuant to the provisions of state statutes, and the State Emergency Operations Plan, which is hereby activated.

IN TESTIMONY, WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Utah this 29st day of June 2015

(State Seal)

Gary R. Herbert
Governor

ATTEST:

Lieutenant Governor
Spencer J. Cox

2015/005/EO