I am very concerned about fire mitigation in Park City and Deer Valley. Royal Street is the only evacuation route for Deer Valley — a two-lane road with no outlet except for Mine Street access or Deer Valley Drive, if we can get to them.
The Stein Erickson Estates development was approved a few years ago by the Park City Council despite a large number of standing dead trees from beetle disease. There are even more dead trees laying on the ground. It is an area just ripe for a disaster, not only for that new development, but for all of Deer Valley.
Deer Valley Resort and Park City own property on Royal Street plagued with dried-up dead trees. We need remediation now, before a tragedy occurs. If the wind were to go north, the entire Old Town of Park City could be destroyed in a matter of minutes.
What is the city planning for remediation of these areas? As property owners, we continue to reduce hazards on our property, but we are just one. Several other neighbors have also taken steps to remove potential fire hazards, but if we cannot get down or up Royal Street, there is no way for us to escape a fire disaster.
When are Park City and Deer Valley going to take this fire threat seriously? Yes, they created a few piles of dead trees, which were burnt last year, but there are more piles that they never burned, making them perfect kindling for a disaster. They have promised for several years to clean it up. One lightning strike could take out the whole town. Now is the time for action!
Andrea Barros
Park City