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Herriman sets up emergency alert service to warn Utahns during wildfire season

Posted at 11:35 AM, Apr 23, 2015
and last updated 2015-04-23 13:41:25-04

HERRIMAN, Utah - A dry winter has exposed the city of Herriman to some trouble spots where fires could flare up so firefighters are keeping a close eye on conditions for what’s expected to be an active fire season.

All eyes are on the hillsides covered with brush and tall grass.

The fear is once all the brush dies, it will become dry fuel.

On a windy hot day, a wildfire could spark and quickly spread.

Unified Fire authorities are now making sure Herriman residents are protecting their homes before fire season begins.

Authorities are urging them to create a buffer or defensible space around their homes and to remove brush and debris.

These measures will help protect everyone in these areas.

“Our hills are used a lot for hiking and mountain biking but we want people to be very careful while they're up there so they don't trigger a fire,” Herriman spokeswoman Tami Moody said.

City leaders along with police and fire crews have witnessed dangerous wildfires.

Within the past five years, a handful of homes have been lost or damaged and hundreds of people have been evacuated.

To make sure, people living in Herriman aren’t caught off guard by a wildfire or any emergency event, city leaders have set up an emergency text alert service.

Click here to sign up for the emergency text alerts.