Wildland Fire Suppression Fund ("Insurance Fund")
The Wildland Fire Suppression fund is an insurance fund the counties from the state of Utah can participate in by paying a premium. This premium is determined by the value of private land within the county. Counties are eligible to use money from the fund once they have exceeded their normal operating fire budget.
The fund is financed by contributions from the participating counties and matching funds from the State.
Senate Bill 65 of the 2006 General Legislative Session changed the formula for calculating the county’s payment into the Wildland Fire Suppression Fund. The formula now allows for exemption of certain areas from the assessment, based on wildfire risk as determined by factors such as vegetation, access, water availability, and proximity of firefighting resources.
The Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands completed the rule-making process to implement this legislation, and Administrative Rule R652-123 was effective as of August 28, 2006.
Counties may request that an area be exempt from its assessed payment into the Wildland Fire Suppression Fund by petitioning the Division using one of forms available below. The county's petition must be filed by July 1 of the year prior to the March 15 payment date.
For more details refer to Administrative Rule R652-123. Counties wishing to take advantage of this provision are urged to contact their Area Fire Management Officer from the Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands.
Petition for Area Exemption Forms