Fire Protection

Fire Prevention

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

During this time of drought we have to be aware of the
dangers of wild fire and how it can affect our property
especially homes by rangeland and forested areas.
Wild fire may affect homes in town also.

Protect your Dream from Wild Fire

The Wyoming State Forestry Division, Wyoming Emergency Management Agency (WEMA), 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.

Contact Information

Wyoming State Forestry Division

1100 W. 22nd St.

Cheyenne, WY 82002

Phone: (307)777-7586

Wyoming Emergency Management Agency,

5500 Bishop Blvd.

Cheyenne, WY 82009

Phone: (307)777-4900

Uinta County Emergency Management Agency

225 9th Street

Evanston, WY 82930

Phone: (307)783-0327

Uinta County Fire District

P.O. Box 640

Evanston, WY 82930

Phone: (307)789-3013

·         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 oulet 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 you 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 connected so firefighters can use it easily.

·         Clearly mark all emergency water sources.

·         Create easy firefighter access to your closest emergency water source.