Hey everyone! Welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six! Today, we 1) cover the latest on the Beulah Fire, 2) give a quick update on districting here in Summit County, 3) talk about some important primary election information, 4) and so much more. Alright, let’s get into the news!

The latest update we have on the Belulah Fire as of 3:30 PM today, Friday, August 8, 2025.

The Beulah Fire was reported the morning of Thursday, August 7, 2025 and is burning on the north slope of the High Uintas Wilderness on the Evanston-Mountain View Ranger District. The fire, estimated to be 1,400 cares, is located 7.5 miles southeast of the Bear River Ranger Station on Highway 150. There are critical fire weather conditions in effect for today, Friday, August 8th. The area is experiencing high winds and very low relative humidity. Fuel conditions are at critically low levels. Yesterday, firefighters observed erratic and extreme fire behavior. Initial attack and air resources responded to the incident. Campers in the East Fork of the Bear River, Mill Creek, and the West Fork of the Blacks Fork areas were evacuated by the Summit County Sheriff. Firefighter and public safety are the number one priority. Approximately, 140 people are working on the fire with resources engaged in full suppression activities. Today, crews will be focused on structure protection in the Hinkley Boy Scout Camp and mapping the fire perimeter. Challenges to firefighters include steep rocky terrain, accessing the fire, and fire weakened and standing dead trees.

This morning, on Friday, August 8, the Uinta Wasatch Cache Forest put Stage 1 Fire Restrictions in place. This means that on Uinta Wasatch Cache National Forest land: 

• Fires are only allowed in Forest Service-made fire pits or approved gas/liquid stoves in cleared areas—NO open fires or charcoal fires allowed outside those designated spots. Rock fire rings are NOT allowed.
• Smoking is NOT allowed unless you are in enclosed spaces (like a car or building) or clearings at least 3 feet wide.

As a reminder, ALL UTAH STATE LANDS AND UNINCORPORATED SUMMIT COUNTY LANDS have Stage 2 restrictions are in place. THIS MEANS NO OPEN FIRES OF ANY KIND. 

• To clarify: If you live within a city’s limits you are incorporated in Summit County. Residents of Park City, Henefer, Oakley, Francis, Kamas, Coalville cities should check their municipal websites for more clear restrictions.
• If you are NOT within a city’s limits, you live in unincorporated Summit County and NO open fire is allowed.

For the latest information during wildfires, please visit summitcounty.info/emergency. Visit summitcounty.info/fire to sign up for emergency alerts, active fire updates, fire conditions & more.

Also this week, on Monday, August 4, the Summit County Districting Commission approved new districting map boundaries. To view the new district map, visit summitcounty.info/districtsmap. As a reminder, the change in districts is a result of House Bill 356, which mandated that Summit County transition from an at-large election system to district-based representation. 

The 2025 Primary Elections are NEXT WEEK, on Tuesday, August 12! As a reminder, there are races for the Coalville Mayor and City Council, Henefer Mayor, Francis City Council, and Park City Council. 

Let’s recap all the ways YOU can cast your ballot: 

• Early Voting: The last day to cast your vote early is TOMORROW, Saturday, August 9, at Park City Hall OR the Summit County Courthouse in Coalville from 8 AM to 1 PM.
• By Mail: You can return your ballot by mail. As a reminder, due to legislation passed by the Utah Legislature, ballots must be RECEIVED by the Clerk’s Office by 8 PM on Election Day (Tuesday, August 12, 2025). In the past, ballots had to be postmarked the day before Election Day. Voters should be aware of the shorter timeline to return their ballots.
• Drop Box: You can also utilize drop boxes for the 2025 Primary Elections. For a full list of available drop box locations, please visit summitcounty.info/2025primaries.
• In-Person Voting: Finally, in-person voting on Election Day, Tuesday, August 12, will be available! Cast your vote anytime between 7 AM and 8 PM at Coalville City Hall, the Kamas Branch of the Summit County Library, or at Park City Hall/Marsac Building.

Please note: if you or a loved one are temporarily or permanently disabled and need an accommodation to vote, please call 435-336-3040 or email elections@summitcountyutah.gov. 

And don’t forget, the annual Summit County Fair is in full swing this week! Tickets are still available for the PRCA Rodeo events happening TONIGHT, Friday, August 8  and TOMORROW, Saturday, August 9. There are also a ton of free events, including the parade, livestock show, live music, and more. For a full schedule and links to tickets, check out summitcountyfair.org/schedule. 

Up next, with school right around the corner, the Summit County Health Department wants to remind parents to check that their child’s vaccines up-to-date so that they are protected and ready to learn! 

The Health Department is committed to providing affordable immunizations to clients at all of our clinics, offering immunizations for insured and uninsured individuals. For those that qualify, the vaccines are low to no cost.

Call a Health Department Office today to make an appointment.

• For Coalville, call: 435-336-3234.
• For Kamas, call: 435-783-3161.
• For Park City, call: 435-333-1500.

Finally, August is Overdose Awareness Month. Overdose affects more people than you might think.

An overdose happens when someone takes more of a substance than their body can handle—this could be anything from alcohol to street drugs to prescription medications. It’s not just about illegal drugs; even medications prescribed by a doctor can be dangerous if misused.

What’s one big risk factor? Tolerance. When someone builds up a tolerance to a substance, they need more of that drug or alcohol to feel the same effects. But using more can push the body past its limit—sometimes with deadly consequences.

It doesn’t take long to become dependent on a substance, either. In just 5 to 7 days, someone can start down the path toward addiction. Here’s a shocking fact: according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), 80% of heroin users started with a prescription opioid.

So, what can you do to help prevent overdoses?

• Safely dispose of medications you’re no longer using. Click here for drop-off locations in Summit County.
• Keep prescriptions locked up or out of reach—half of all misused prescriptions are taken by friends or family.
• Talk to your doctor about non-opioid options for managing pain—for yourself and your loved ones. Visit knowyourscript.org for tips and resources on how to be safe and keep your loved ones safe.

Every action counts. Let’s work together to raise awareness and save lives.