Charcoal grills, barbecues, and wood-burning stoves are now banned in unincorporated Wasatch County after officials restored Stage 2 fire restrictions on Tuesday, July 28, citing increasing fire danger as high temperatures return this weekend. Summit County's identical restrictions have been in place since June 26.

The order prohibits open fires of any kind in unincorporated lands across both Wasatch Back counties, KPCW reported. The ban explicitly covers charcoal grills, barbecues, and coal- and wood-burning stoves in developed camping and picnic grounds.

Violations carry fines up to $1,000 and potential jail time.

Summit County never lifted restrictions

Summit County's Stage 2 restrictions have remained continuously in place since June 26. Wasatch County had enacted its own Stage 2 order in late June ahead of Independence Day but restored it July 28 after conditions worsened again.

The Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest remains under the less-restrictive Stage 1 restrictions.

Drought conditions persist despite monsoon rain

The restoration comes as fire officials continue to warn that brief rainstorms have done little to ease underlying drought conditions. Wasatch Fire District Fire Marshal Clint Neerings told the Heber City Council on Tuesday, July 21, that moisture evaporates so quickly that new wildfires still have plenty of fuel.

"Any fire that starts is going to go big, not just from cheatgrass to shrubbery, but into the larger pine stands," Neerings said at that meeting, as KPCW reported July 22.

Fire Warden Troy Morgan told KPCW in the same July 22 report that Utah is still dealing with the consequences of a warm, dry winter and a punishing statewide drought, and that recovering requires multiple weeks or a month of continual rain.

What residents should know

The Stage 2 restrictions apply to unincorporated areas. Residents within incorporated city limits, including Park City and Heber City, should check with their municipality for any additional local bans that may be in effect.

No end date or review timeline for the restrictions has been announced.

Residents can check current fire restrictions at the Utah DNR fire info hub or Summit County fire updates at summitcounty.info/fire.