VIDEO: Over the next two years, Utah officials plan to inspect up to 80,000 homes in the state’s most wildfire-prone areas under a new program aimed at reducing the loss of houses to wildfires and helping residents retain insurance coverage. The program redraws maps indicating which communities are at highest risk for wildfires.
The cost of the fire prevention program, mandated by the newly passed law, will fall on the 80,000 homeowners in the highest risk wildfire areas, which span the state. Fees will be collected by local governments. House Bill 48, passed earlier this year, directs the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands to evaluate the properties and advise homeowners on how to reduce fire risk.
โThis is a monumental task,โ said State Forester Jamie Barnes, who is overseeing the effort. Certified teams will inspect homes for wildfire risks, including vegetation, defensible space, and structural vulnerabilities like exposed vents that could allow embers to enter and potentially burn a house. The state plans to complete the assessments by 2028.
