The Park City Fire Service District will again offer the Wood Chipping and Fuel Reduction Program during the summer of 2013.  The dates for the service are June 3 – August 19.  You can view our planned schedule by subdivision here (PDF).  This service is provided free of charge to the residents within the area served by the Park City Fire Service District for the first chipping services request. The second chipping request will be assessed a fee of $100.00, and each additional request will be $150.00

• We are able to chip cut up trees, brush and branches only.
• We are not able to chip dimensional lumber, construction material, nails, wire string, lawn clippings or thorny bushes.
• The maximum diameter of the wood should not exceed 6 inches.
• Please stack your piles close to the road, cut ends facing downhill.

For more information or to request a chipping date click here, or call the Park City Fire Service District Fire Prevention Bureau at (435) 940-2520, or stop by the our office at 736 W. Bitner Road.

When calling to schedule chipping please include your name, address, subdivision, and telephone number.

Also let us know if you would like to keep the mulch/chipping or have it taken away.

Use the Zone Concept:

Zone 1 is the 30 feet adjacent to the home and its attachments.
Zone 2 is 30 to 100 feet from the home.
Zone 3 is 100 to 200 feet from the home.

Zone 1 (All Hazard Areas)

This well-irrigated area encircles the structure and all its attachments (wooden decks, fences, and boardwalks) for at least 30 feet on all sides.

1. Plants should be carefully spaced, low-growing and free of resins, oils and waxes that burn easily.
2. Mow the lawn regularly. Prune trees up six to ten feet from the ground.
3. Space conifer trees 30 feet between crowns. Trim back trees that overhang the house.
4. Create a ‘fire-free’ area within five feet of the home, using non-flammable landscaping materials and/or high-moisture-content annuals and perennials.
5. Remove dead vegetation from under deck and within 10 feet of house.
6. Consider fire-resistant material for patio furniture, swing sets, etc.
7. Firewood stacks and propane tanks should not be located in this zone.
8. Water plants, trees and mulch regularly.
9. Consider xeriscaping if you are affected by water-use restrictions.

Zone 2 (Moderate and High Hazard Areas)

Plants in this zone should be low-growing, well irrigated, and less flammable.

1. Leave 30 feet between clusters of two to three trees, or 20 feet between individual trees.
2. Encourage a mixture of deciduous and coniferous trees.
3. Create ‘fuel breaks’, like driveways, gravel walkways and lawns.
4. Prune trees up six to ten feet from the ground.

Zone 3 (High Hazard Areas)

Thin this area, although less space is required than in Zone 2. Remove smaller conifers that are growing between taller trees. Remove heavy accumulation of woody debris. Reduce the density of tall trees so canopies are not touching.

1. Maintaining the Firewise Landscape
2. Keep trees and shrubs pruned six to ten feet from the ground.
3. Remove leaf clutter and dead and overhanging branches.
4. Mow the lawn regularly and dispose of cutting and debris promptly.
5. Store firewood away from the house.
6. Maintain the irrigation system regularly.
7. Familiarize yourself with local regulations regarding vegetative clearance, debris disposal, and fire safety requirements for equipment.

For additional information visit the Firewise website from the National Fire Protection Association – http://www.firewise.org/Information.aspx

Firewise Guide to Landscape and Construction website – http://www.firewise.org/~/media/Firewise/Files/Pdfs/landscaping.pdf

rican Lung Association in their “Fight for Air Climb
This title was not won again by this Park City team, but taking 2nd was a great accomplishment, too.  All firemen were dressed in full gear, including masks feeding air through them.  “It was awful, worst experience ever, and doesn’t get any better the next year!  Breathing through the air-fed mask is a chore in itself,” Firemen stated with emphasis on the “awful”!” campaign!  The Tower at Well’s Fargo Building was the site once again for the run up 24 flights of stairs for more than one hundred fire fighters from Utah.

Wells Fargo Building downtown Salt Lake City was the site of the competition.  Park City’s Fireman Erick Hockridge took 2nd overall.

These man and women carry about 60 pounds of gear, as well.  They train for months ahead, and still it is grueling and “tough on the toughest!”  With 598 stairs ahead of them in the Wells Fargo Building, the 7 am start was buzzing with firemen manning their gear for the race to begin.

Wells Fargo Building downtown Salt Lake City was the site of the competition for the 8th year.

Erick Hockridge took 2nd overall and PCFD took 2nd in team with 7 men Sponsored by the American Lung Association in Utah, hundreds of stair climbers — including several teams of firefighters from around the valley sporting 60 pounds of gear — participated in the seventh-annual Fight for Air Climb. Racers climbed 598 stairs in the Wells Fargo Building on Saturday in Salt Lake City -  Raising over $70,000 is their goal this year!

By: Cheryl Ovard SCN Editor

Executive Summary:

From 2008-2011, Summit County averaged about 51 wildfires annually. In 2012,2012 was one of the most dangerous fire seasons in memory. Low accumulated
snowfall in 2011, followed by continued low precipitation in 2012, combined to give

Summit County had a total of 112 wildfires. In addition to a larger number of
events, these wildfires began much earlier than in a normal fire year. Typically, we
see 4-5 wildfires before the official start of the fire year on June 1st. Last year, Summit
County experienced a total of 30 wildfires before June 1st.
Our Administrative Control Board approved the funding of a new wildland fire engine program. This fire engine crew
staffed with trained wildland firefighters assists in fighting wild fires in and outside of Utah. The program has already
earned back the original investment and continues to give much needed experience to some of our firefighters in
handling our own wildland/urban interface issues.
Visit our website at www.pcfd.org to learn how to make you and your family safer from the dangers of potential wild
fires. We have posted information on creating defensible space around your home, evacuation preparation and
guidelines, and an emergency preparedness guide.
In 2012 the Park City Fire District replaced the old “Burns” fire station with a new and efficient fire station at Kimball
Junction. This station gives our residents a total of seven staffed fire stations insuring our ISO (Insurance Services Office)
rating of two in the incorporated areas of our district and three in the unincorporated portion. These excellent ISO
ratings mean significant savings to homeowners in their fire insurance premiums. More importantly, our strategically
located stations within our 110 square mile district mean residents get quick response to life and property threatening
emergencies.
Please visit our website to stay current with the Park City Fire District. We hope you enjoy living, visiting and playing
here as much as we love working here.
Be safe!

Paul Hewitt
Park City Fire Service District

All heating equipment needs space. Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away. Supervise children whenever a wood stove or space heater is being used. Have a three-foot “kid-free” zone around open fires and space heaters.

Wood Stoves

Wood stoves cause over 4,000 residential fires every year. Carefully follow the manufacturer’s installation and maintenance instructions. Look for solid construction, such as plate steel or cast iron metal. Check for cracks and inspect legs, hinges and door seals for smooth joints and seams. Use only seasoned wood for fuel, not green wood, artificial logs, or trash. In pellet stoves, burn only dry, seasoned wood pellets. Inspect and clean your pipes and chimneys annually and check monthly for damage or obstructions.

Electric Space Heaters

Buy only heaters evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Check to make sure it has a thermostat control mechanism, and will switch off automatically if the heater falls over. Heaters are not dryers or tables; don’t dry clothes or store objects on top of your heater. Plug space heaters directly into wall outlets and never into an extension cord or power strip. Always unplug your electric space heater when not in use.

Kerosene Heaters

Buy only heaters evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL), and check with your local fire department on the legality of kerosene heater use in your community. Never fill your heater with gasoline or camp stove fuel; both flare-up easily. Only use crystal clear K-1 kerosene. When refueling, allow the appliance to cool first and then refuel outside. Never overfill any portable heater. Use the kerosene heater in a well ventilated room.

Fireplaces

Fireplaces regularly build up creosote in their chimneys. They need to be cleaned out frequently and chimneys should be inspected for obstructions and cracks to prevent deadly chimney and roof fires. Check to make sure the damper is open before starting any fire. Never burn trash, paper or green wood in your fireplace. These materials cause heavy creosote buildup and are difficult to control. Use a screen heavy enough to stop rolling logs and big enough to cover the entire opening of the fireplace to catch flying sparks. Don’t wear loose-fitting clothes near any open flame. Make sure the fire is completely out before leaving the house or going to bed. Allow ashes to cool before disposing of them. Place ashes in a tightly covered metal container and keep the ash container at least 10 feet away from your home and any other nearby buildings. Never empty the ash directly into a trash can. Douse and saturate the ashes with water.

Finally, having a working smoke alarm dramatically increases your chances of surviving a fire. And remember to practice a home escape plan frequently with your family.

1. Keep 25 ft. of distance between the fire pit and any structures and/or other combustible materials.
2. Fire pit should not exceed 3 ft. in diameter and 2 ft. in height.
3. Have an on-site means of extinguishment for the fire.
4. If fire becomes a nuisance to neighbors, it will need to be extinguished.
5. Fire needs to be constantly attended.
6. Owner/operator is liable for any fire damage resulting from the use of the fire pit.

Be Careful!!!