As wildfire season approaches, Salt Lake City residents are encouraged to take proactive steps to safeguard their homes and neighborhoods. With Utah’s dry conditions and our city’s growing wildland-urban interface, there continues to be an elevated risk of wildfires. Fortunately, there are simple, effective actions we can all take—such as clearing dry brush, trimming trees, cleaning gutters, and maintaining defensible space around our homes.
This year, we invite you to take part in NFPA’s Wildfire Community Preparedness Day on May 3 -a national day of action encouraging residents to work together to make their communities safer from wildfire. Learn more and find project ideas at nfpa.org/events/wildfire-community-preparedness-day.
To build on this momentum, Salt Lake City Fire will launch our annual Ready, Set, Go! wildfire outreach campaign. On May 10, firefighters and prevention staff will go door-to-door in neighborhoods along the Jordan River and in the Capitol area, followed by Carrigan Canyon on May 31. We’ll share door hangers with preparedness tips and speak with residents we meet along the way.
Don’t forget: we also offer a free Defensible Space Assessment. Our prevention team will visit your property and provide personalized recommendations to improve wildfire resilience. Request your assessment at fire.slc.gov/wildland.
For additional resources, visit UtahFireSense.org, where you’ll find fire-safe landscaping guides, home hardening tips, and evacuation planning tools designed for Utah residents.
Wildfire prevention is a shared responsibility. While the Salt Lake City Fire Department stands ready to respond, it’s the steps we all take now that make the biggest impact. Let’s work together to protect our homes, our open spaces, and each other.
Sincerely,
Karl Lieb
Emergency Preparation
Wildland Urban Interface Zoning
This month, Salt Lake City Emergency Management encourages all residents to familiarize themselves with local evacuation zones. If you live in a wildland urban interface area - such as the east side of the city along the bench - please visit our website to identify your evacuation zone by name. You can find this information at www.slcfire.com/wildland by locating your residence on the interactive map.
Knowing the name of your evacuation zone is critical to your and your family’s safety in the event of a wildfire or other emergency. This knowledge ensures you can respond quickly and appropriately if an evacuation order is issued.
Emergency Alerts
In the event of an emergency, you may receive a notification on your phone indicating there is a threat in your area, along with protective actions to take - such as evacuating. If evacuation is necessary, stay calm, alert, and act quickly. Drive safely and follow the directions of first responders, who are guiding you along the safest routes out of the area.
Having your emergency kits ready in advance will save time and reduce stress. Don’t forget to prepare go bags for children and pets, too. For guidance on what to include, visit www.ready.gov/kit.
