Only a handful of Utah cities and counties are scrambling to comply with Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s emergency declaration asking local officials to ban all personal use of fireworks in their jurisdictions because of wildfire dangers.
Most local government officials said Wednesday that the governor's call on Tuesday came too late, and they simply don't have the time to enact such bans before the Pioneer Day holiday next week.
In Salt Lake County, Holladay and Draper issued full bans on Tuesday. Murray, West Jordan and South Salt Lake issued "voluntary" bans Wednesday, meaning police officers will ask residents not to use legal fireworks within city boundaries. But if residents refuse to comply, they cannot be cited.
"It's a little difficult when people have already purchased them and it's available for sale on every corner," said Jan Wells, Murray's chief of staff. She said most cities do not have the resources to inform residents of a ban before the holiday.
The only Utah County city to call for a ban is Provo, which passed a voluntary ban because of such short notice Tuesday. Eagle Mountain is in the process of formulating a fireworks ban, which city officials hope to implement before the holiday. Elk Ridge and Genola had put bans in place before the governor's call.
Huntsman issued the request just hours before many cities held their Tuesday night council meetings. In order to legally take any council-backed action, the government bodies would have to post notice of it 24 hours before their meetings.
Some city officials also said they could not justify banning fireworks after issuing business licenses to the hundreds of private fireworks vendors that set up shop in the state.
"We find the timing a little bit late," said Liane Stillman, Cottonwood Heights city manager. "We'll be supporters of this ban in a more timely fashion next year."
Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson's spokesman, Patrick Thronson, said Anderson had similar concerns about timing.
"After consulting with the fire chief, the mayor believes that the existing restrictions are sufficient to protect the public safety," Thronson said. "He also believes that a citywide ban instituted at this time when many vendors and businesses have purchased fireworks with the expectation that they would be able to sell them would have a negative economic impact and would not be fair."
Numerous cities and counties already prohibit fireworks in certain areas and are beefing up enforcement, including charging someone who starts a fire with fireworks for the cost of putting it out. Use of fireworks on state and public lands also is prohibited.
Summit County and Park City had already passed their own bans, effective shortly after the Fourth of July.
The Herriman City Council, which meets on Thursdays, had time to get the issue on its agenda for this week and is expected to vote on the ban.
The West Valley City Council, meanwhile, discussed a fireworks ban at its study meeting Tuesday afternoon but didn't vote on the issue that night. Members of the City Council wanted more time to consider the issue, West Valley spokesman Aaron Crim said.
Cottonwood Heights, Midvale, Sandy, South Jordan, Riverton and Taylorsville opted not to take part in the fireworks ban, although officials from those cities said enforcement of existing fireworks laws would be increased.
Because of time constraints for city councils, Davis County residents also aren't likely to see any all-out bans on fireworks for the upcoming holiday.
In Bountiful and Centerville, fireworks are prohibited east of Davis Boulevard and 400 East. Mayors and city managers in Davis cities west of I-15 don't foresee much fire danger, and although they don't expect to ban legal fireworks, their police departments will be out in force to catch those who use illegal fireworks.
Other city leaders questioned whether an all-out ban is legal.
"It's a huge thing to put the city in that predicament," said Trina Klinger, spokeswoman for Sandy. "We do acknowledge the governor and his request. However, it is within state law that we cannot ban as a city."
Fireworks vendor TNT Fireworks sent out a news release Wednesday citing a state law that the company also contended would "prohibit cities, counties and towns from enacting bans on the sale and use of Utah-legal fireworks."
Despite the legal questions, Salt Lake County Council members said they were in favor of following the governor's call, although they also said it was too late to do so. Salt Lake County Councilman Michael Jensen said a fireworks restriction is something the state needs to look at long term, especially since Utah is the second-driest state in the nation.
"At some point, the Legislature needs to revisit the idea of having legalized fireworks," said Jensen, who is also a deputy fire chief.
In southern Utah, Washington County officials pulled the plug on a planned fireworks display for the Fourth of July, because of the region's high fire danger. But St. George Mayor Dan McArthur said that while he agrees with the governor that the fire danger is high throughout the state, he is not convinced it is necessary to ban personal fireworks in his city.
"To me, I don't think one size fits all. I am recommending we stay status quo and keep a vigil," said McArthur. "July 24th is a celebration, and we've allowed fireworks in the past. Legal fireworks are not a hazard in our community."
In Iron County, Cedar City Mayor Gerald Sherratt is recommending a slightly tougher warning to the public about fireworks, said the city's fire chief, Paul Irons.
"We're going to try and put a heavier spin on it," said Irons, adding the mayor will address the issue during a City Council meeting this week. "We'd like nothing better than to ban them (fireworks), but this close to the 24th, there's no way to get that information out to the public."
Contributing: Elizabeth Stuart, Jared Page, Doug Smeath, Joe Dougherty, Leigh Dethman, Genelle Pugmire
E-mail: astowell@desnews.com, nperkins@desnews.com