Their home survived the Forsyth Fire. They hope it can be a model for building in Utah’s fire-prone areas.

This planning commissioner wants Washington County to adopt stricter building protocols in areas with a high wildfire risk.

A man and woman sit on a porch of a newly-constructed home. In the background are burnt trees from the Forsyth Fire.

(Brooke Larsen | The Salt Lake Tribune) Keith and Malissa Kelsch sit on the porch of their home surrounded by blackened trees after the Forsyth Fire burned through Pine Valley, Wednesday, July 9, 2025.

Their home survived the Forsyth Fire. They hope it can be a model for building in Utah’s fire-prone areas.

This planning commissioner wants Washington County to adopt stricter building protocols in areas with a high wildfire risk.

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