As a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, Senator John Curtis is part of a team that introduced the FIRE SMART Act, aimed to help rural areas like the Uintah Basin. Thursday’s release from Curtis’ office shares that the legislation would help build rural communities’ resiliency by optimizing water infrastructure to provide the flow necessary for emergency responders to save lives and property during an active wildfire. The legislation amends the EPA’s Drinking Water State Revolving Funds to expand eligibility for water infrastructure projects that have both drinking water and wildfire suppression benefits. “As wildfires continue to threaten Utah and the West, rural communities need access to the tools and infrastructure necessary to protect lives and property,” says Senator Curtis. “By helping small, high-risk communities upgrade critical water infrastructure, we can improve public safety while maintaining the core mission of providing reliable drinking water.”
