Summit County tightens fire restrictions as wildfire risk rises

The easiest campfire on a Wasatch Back trip just disappeared from most of Summit County’s backcountry playbook. Stage 1 fire restrictions took effect at 12:01 a.m. June 6 across all state land and unincorporated areas of the county, while private lands inside incorporated towns and city limits were not covered.

For campers and overlanders, that changes the first and last decisions of the day. Open fires were banned except in approved rings or grills at developed campgrounds, or in permanently built fire pits at private residences. Dinner plans now need to lean on stoves, coolers, and other no-flame meal setups, and smoking has to stay inside closed vehicles, buildings, or developed recreation areas. Fireworks, tracer ammunition, and exploding targets were also prohibited, so anything that sparks for fun needs to stay off the trip list.

The rules reached well beyond the camp kitchen. Cutting, welding, and grinding metal in dry vegetation were restricted, and motorcycles, chainsaws, ATVs, and similar equipment needed approved spark arrestors before heading out. That matters on mixed-use rides and trail-access days, where a quick stop in the dirt can turn into a fire problem if gear is not set up right.

Summit County said the order was issued because wildfire risk had risen in the Northeast area of Utah, after the state forester consulted with the Summit County Council. The broader Utah order was tied to current and forecasted weather, record dry vegetation, and extreme fire danger across the state. Utah Fire Sense says roughly 70% of Utah wildfires can be prevented through basic precautions, a reminder that the smallest habits, from extinguishing a stove to parking on bare ground, matter most when the country is this dry.

The timing hit a busy stretch for summer travel. Summit County’s trailheads, bike routes, campsites, reservoirs, and high-country access draw steady traffic through the Wasatch Back, and the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest says the Heber-Kamas Ranger District offers camping, hiking, mountain biking, fishing, boating, and scenic driving all year. Summit County also said burn permits for unincorporated areas were required beginning June 1, while burning stayed closed in incorporated areas for the season. Violations carried penalties of up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000, so the practical trip plan is simple: pack for a no-fire weekend, verify where you are camped, and keep every spark under control before the next dry, windy afternoon.