February 23, 2022 |
Wildland firefighters across Wyoming are watching Senate File 86. It would grant an exemption from calling before they dig on a fire line. State law requires excavators to dial 811, or One Call Wyoming, for any kind of digging. Proponents of SF 86 say the requirement hampers firefighters.
The bill was introduced Friday and sent to the Ag and Public lands committee, which heard testimony Tuesday evening. Chairman Brian Boner teed up the discussion, saying the three-line bill is simple direct. It exempts all activities associated with the emergency suppression of wildfires from having to make the call.
Pictured above: USFS firefighters work along Forest Roads 500 and 515, October 8, 2020. Photo by Travis Chamberlain.
Proponents of SF 86 said current state law shifts liability from utility companies to emergency responders, who cited concerns about safety and the lack of time to wait for a One Call crew to arrive on scene, locate and mark a line. In the real world, when homes are threatened by a fast spreading fire, the call is not being made, said Representative Jeremy Haroldson of Platte and Converse County.
Testimony from county firefighters was compelling. They talked about the kinds of conditions they face and the decisions that must be made quickly. They all said the bill is needed and overdue. The Wyoming Fire Advisory Board supports the bill as written.
Although up 80 entities in Wyoming depend on 811 to protect utility infrastructure, none provided testimony at last night’s public meeting. The committee passed the bill on a unanimous vote with the recommendation for the Senate Committee of the whole to do-pass.
