After significant discussion and debate, the Utah Interagency Fire Team has made the decision to maintain the current five-dispatch center model. This means that the wildfire dispatch center located in Vernal is no longer on the chopping block. Executives from the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Utah Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of Indian Affairs, National Park Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services met on Thursday to discuss the consolidation efforts and ultimately decided to abandon the plan to consolidate locations. “As we moved through this process, it became clear that there was a great deal of concern and uncertainty among fire managers, partners, and the local communities that we serve,” stated BLM Director Ed Roberson. “From the start of this efficiency and cost management effort, we said clearly that we were prepared to stop and adjust at any time if we could not offer the same level of safety and service to our customers.” When the announcement was made in 2017 that the Vernal and Moab fire centers would be relocated to Richfield, local agencies and officials including the Uintah Fire Suppression Special Service District formally announced that they did not support the move and pushed to keep the Vernal center in tact.
