“Chipper Days” is the theme for Herriman’s Hi-Country Estates I neighbourhood.
This community’s residents have accumulated dead trees and brush. The wood chipper that the Unified Fire Authority firefighters brought in turns it into mulch for people’s gardens. As a token of appreciation for the firefighters’ efforts to defend homes, locals order lunch for them.
Terree Kay assists in planning the yearly event, which lowers the risk of wildfire in the area.
“The first year we did this in 2010, I organized it and we had 12 homes participate,” Kay said on Wednesday. “Which was not a lot, but I was grateful for it and it was all done in one day. This year we have 54 homes.”
Kay has witnessed close calls in her town with wildfires threatening homes in the past. The “Chipper Days” event is crucial in her opinion.
“It’s called living with wildfire. We live in a wildland urban interface and that’s a part of it,” she said.
According to a report written for Governor Spencer Cox, many towns ought to begin carrying out the same type of work that Hi-Country Estates I undertakes. It cautions that more needs to be done by towns throughout Utah to get ready for devastating wildfires.
In a recent executive order, the governor commissioned the report, which lists many actions the state should take to guarantee communities are prepared. Utah’s wildfire season used to last from June to October, but according to the research, it is now “year round.” The closest team is the first to respond to a wildfire, demonstrating Utah’s excellent coordination with both federal and local resources.
However, the paper suggests that residents be informed more proactively about the risks of wildfires, including the dangers of roadside starts, agricultural burning during bad weather, target shooting, etc.
“Communities are encouraged to leverage all available resources to create tailored evacuation plans that address their specific wildfire risks,” the report said, urging local governments to do assessment risks, understand demographics (such as elderly or people with pets) and even consider when sheltering in place is better than an evacuation itself.
The survey also noted that there is a shortage of firefighters.