• Afton firefighters have responded to 92 calls this year

The Afton Town Council received updates on new traffic-safety signage near local schools and heard that the Afton Fire Department is nearing its typical annual call volume with four months left in 2026.

At the Sept. 8 council meeting, Public Works reported that speed-limit signs have been installed on both ends of most avenues in town. The upgrades include new 25 mph signs on Lincoln Avenue and clearer signage throughout residential areas.

The town also updated traffic controls near its schools. The speed limit by the high school was reduced from 30 mph to 25 mph, while designated school zones near the high school and junior high were reduced to 20 mph.

Public Works Director J.R. Nield said the updated speed-limit signs, school-zone markers, parking signs and other traffic notices appear to be helping slow drivers down. Council members thanked the department for the work and emphasized the importance of improving safety for students and pedestrians.

An outdated school-zone sign on Third Avenue was also removed. The sign had reportedly been in place for about 30 years but had not been applied since before the elementary school moved from that area.

The council also heard from Afton Fire Chief Cody Wilkes, who reported that the department had responded to 92 calls so far this year. That total is close to the department’s usual full-year call volume.

The calls included 47 fire-related incidents, including alarms and reported fires, and 22 vehicle accidents. The remaining responses included medical assists, search-and-rescue calls, utility-related incidents and community-service requests.

Chief Wilkes said the increase is tied to several factors, including population growth, higher fire danger, more reports of outdoor burning and a growing number  of calls for assistance outside traditional fire emergencies. He said firefighters are often dispatched to burn complaints, including controlled burns reported by neighbors during periods of fire restrictions.

Council members discussed the need for clearer enforcement of fire restrictions. Town officials noted that countywide fire bans apply within Afton, and the town’s fire-safety code allows citations in certain cases. Members said they may review the rules to make expectations and penalties more clearly understood by residents.

You can find the official meeting minutes in the Public Notice section on 18A in the September 16, 2026 edition  of the Star Valley Independent.