Uintah Basin Communications Center

05/24/2026

05/10/2026

Fort Duchesne residents, be aware 🐻 Contact Tribal F&W dispatch 435-725-4835 or BIA dispatch 435-722-2911.

04/29/2026

🚨 NEW UTAH E-BIKE LAW
📅 TAKES EFFECT MAY 6, 2026

⚠️ WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

🔴 Helmet Requirements

All e-bike & e-scooter riders under 21 must wear CPSC-approved helmets
All e-motorcycle riders under 21 must wear DOT-approved helmets

🔴 Speed & Classification

Devices over 20 MPH without pedaling are considered E-MOTORCYCLES
May require:
Driver’s License
Motorcycle Endorsement
Insurance

🔴 Age Restrictions

❌ Under 8 years old – cannot ride on public roads
❌ Under 16 years old – cannot operate e-motorcycles or high-powered devices on public roads

🔴 Impairment Law

🚫 It is illegal to operate ANY e-device while impaired

⚡ KNOW THE DIFFERENCE

🏍️ ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLE
Motor over 750 watts
Can exceed 20 MPH without pedaling

🚲 ELECTRIC BIKE
Motor 750 watts or less
Must have fully operable pedals
Factory-installed crank system

👮‍♂️ SAFETY IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY

Ride smart. Ride legal. Protect yourself and others.

04/28/2026

Beginning this week, the Vernal Police Department, in partnership with the Utah Highway Safety Office, will have officers working dedicated shifts focused on pedestrian safety at crosswalks.

As summer approaches, this is a great time to refocus on watching for pedestrians and keeping safety in mind at all crosswalks. Let’s kick off summer with a strong focus on safety.

Utah Crosswalk Law:

🔹 Striped crosswalks:
When a pedestrian is in a striped crosswalk, drivers must stop and remain stopped until the pedestrian is completely out of the crosswalk. That means the person must be fully across and no longer in the crosswalk before you proceed.

🔹 Solid / unmarked crosswalks (usually at intersections):
These are still legal crosswalks. Drivers must yield to pedestrians. You may proceed once the pedestrian has crossed your direction of travel and is no longer in the lane you are driving in.

04/21/2026

**UPDATE Bluebell road is back open as of 1730**

**Update officers are alternating traffic but that could change at any point** @1530

🚨 ROAD CLOSURE ALERT 🚨

Bluebell Highway is currently CLOSED a few miles west of Hancock Cove due to an active fire in the area.

Emergency crews are on scene working to manage the situation. For your safety and the safety of responders:
🔥 Avoid the area
🚫 Do not attempt to bypass closures
🚓 Follow all directions from law enforcement and fire personnel

Please plan alternate routes and expect delays. We will provide updates as more information becomes available.

04/14/2026

🔥 Duchesne County Burn Window is OPEN 🔥

Alright folks…. Pile it up, light it up—but don’t get reckless with it.

🗓 Open Burn Period: April 14 – May 30
🕓 Hours: Sunrise to Sunset
🚫 Fires MUST be dead out by dusk (yes, we will know if they’re not 👀)

Before you go full pyro mode, here’s your friendly dispatch reminder:

✔️ Burn only untreated wood & dry vegetation
❌ No garbage, plastics, treated wood, or construction junk
💨 If it’s windy… it’s a no from everyone
💧 Have water + tools ready
👀 Do NOT leave it unattended — ever
📞 Call it in to dispatch before you burn

Because here’s the deal…
We love a good, controlled burn.
We do not love chasing your “it got away from me” fire across the county.

Let’s keep it safe, keep it smart, and keep our firefighters bored (the good kind of bored).

🔥 Burn smart. Stay legal. Keep Duchesne County safe. 🔥

04/05/2026

🚨 BURN RESTRICTIONS IN EFFECT 🚨

Starting April 6 at 12:01 AM, Duchesne County will be joining Uintah County in a NO BURNING restriction.

That means:
🔥 No open burns
🔥 No debris burning
🔥 No “it’s just a small pile”

We know spring cleanup season is here… but so are dry conditions and high fire risk. It only takes one spark to turn into something a whole lot bigger than you planned.

🚫🔥👍🏻

04/02/2026

🚨🚨🚫🔥🚫🔥Last night at an emergency board meeting, the Uintah Fire Suppression Special Service District passed a Fire Restriction Order.

There will be NO Spring Open Burning Window from April 2nd through May 31st 2026. Even though it has been raining, the forecasted weather conditions and an extremely dry winter have necessitated these restrictions.

If you have questions, you can call the Uintah Fire District Office at 435-781-6755.🔥🚫🔥🚫🚨🚨

03/25/2026

New 🔥 start: The in Uintah County is burning on Bureau of Land Management land approximately 13 miles northwest of Vernal. The fire is estimated at 50 acres, with smoke visible throughout the Ashley Valley. Resources are on scene and responding. Firefighters will remain on scene overnight and will reassess tactics when conditions improve in the morning. Updates will be provided as information becomes available.

03/24/2026

**Update - Fire is contained as of 17:30 3/24/26**

Dispatch is aware of a fire in the Ft. Duchesne area, located east of Ute Petroleum. At this time, the highway remains open; however, this may change depending on visibility conditions.

Motorists are advised to use caution when traveling in the area and remain alert for emergency responders.

Updates will be provided as more information becomes available. Thank you for your cooperation.