Governor Spencer Cox appointed Jamie Barnes as the commissioner of the Utah Department of Natural Resources in August 2026. Barnes, who previously served as the state forester, takes leadership of the agency following a period of significant success for the state's Fire Sense wildfire prevention program.
New Leadership for Natural Resources
As commissioner, Barnes leads nearly 2,500 employees across nine divisions, three offices, and one authority. Her leadership team oversees several of Utah's most pressing natural resource priorities, including water security, energy and critical mineral development, wildfire management, forest health, state parks, outdoor recreation, and public lands stewardship, according to the Governor's Office.
A Career in Resource Management
Barnes brings extensive experience to the role, having served as the director of the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands beginning in 2021. Her tenure includes over 15 years with the agency, during which she managed sovereign lands to safeguard Utah's navigable lakes and rivers under the Public Trust Doctrine.
Her previous work has earned her various honors, including the 2019 DNR Employee of the Year. Additionally, she received the 2025 Utah Water Pioneer Award from the Utah House of Representatives for her leadership on the Great Salt Lake, specifically for establishing a framework for critical mineral extraction and negotiating a major water donation with Compass Minerals.
Success of Fire Sense Program
The appointment comes as state and federal officials continue to see the positive impact of the Fire Sense campaign. Data released by the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands showed that human-caused wildfires were reduced by 52% from 2020 to 2021, and by another 56% over the following two years.
According to state data, human-caused wildfire counts dropped from 1,176 in 2020 to 570 in 2021, then to 466 in 2022, and reached a low of 288 in 2023. These reductions occurred despite environmental factors such as extreme drought and high fuel loads that were expected to increase fire risks.
Combating Human-Caused Fires
Governor Cox launched the Fire Sense campaign in response to an alarming increase in human-caused wildfires in 2020. The statewide public awareness campaign was designed to reduce fires by focusing on behaviors that spark wildfires, such as outdoor recreation, the use of fireworks, debris burning, and the use of firearms.
"Fire Sense has helped us significantly reduce human-caused wildfires in Utah," Gov. Cox said in January 2024. He noted that neighboring states have also observed the success of the campaign, which serves as an example of Utah taking a lead on issues impacting the public.
Interagency Collaboration
The Fire Sense program is managed by the Utah Department of Natural Resources in collaboration with several interagency partners, including the Bureau of Land Management, the US Forest Service, and the National Park Service. The program's success has earned national and state recognition, including the bronze-level Smokey Bear Award in September 2023.
Jamie Barnes, in her previous role as State Forester, noted that while people are responsible for nine out of ten wildfire starts across the country, Utah has been able to cut that number in half through the program. To recognize the efforts of state and federal leaders, the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands held a ceremony at the Utah State Capitol to present a golden Pulaski to Governor Cox and other interagency partners.
Professional Background
Barnes holds a Master of Natural Resources from the University of Idaho and a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from Weber State University. She began her career in the private legal sector before joining the Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands as a paralegal in 2011.
The Golden Pulaski Award
The Pulaski tool, for which the division presented an award, is a versatile instrument used by wildland firefighters that combines the functions of an axe and a mattock. It was named after Ed Pulaski, a figure who gained fame during the Big Blowup of 1910.
