A project that could save residents money while increasing public safety is moving forward. According to Uintah County Commissioner Bill Stringer, the Maesar fire substation project can proceed now that funding has been arranged. The need for a fire substation in Maesar has been discussed for years. The Maesar area has 495 residents, not including Painted Hills or Dry Fork, who live 5+ miles from the closest fire station in Vernal. The average response time to these homes is 8 to 10 minutes posing several issues, largely in the form of higher insurance rates for those residents. Homes within 5 miles of a fire station can save as much as $500 dollars per year, which is an average savings of 42 percent, compared to homes more than 5 miles from a station. This means a Maesar substation could save residents as much as a quarter million dollars on insurance premiums alone while lowering response time and improving safety for the entire area including Dry Fork Canyon. The Community Impact Board awarded $239,000 dollars in grant funding for the project. Commissioner Stringer stated on Monday that the general fund and mineral lease distribution will provide the $150,000 dollars in remaining funds needed to see the project become a reality.
