PROVO — After an influx of heated comments and cooler temperatures, the Utah County Commission has lifted a shooting ban in the unincorporated areas of Utah County.
The commission first imposed a no-shooting ordinance July 10, after declaring a "state of emergency" in Utah County because of high temperatures and dry conditions.
"We took the best information available and made a decision," said Utah County Commissioner Larry Ellertson. "It seems to have been successful in the way it has worked in terms of fire."
The ban, which also included open fires and fireworks, was originally scheduled to be in place until Aug. 7. However, it was extended based on the continuing dry and hot conditions, Ellertson said.
It was rescinded Tuesday because of improving conditions, he said, rather than remaining till Sept. 7, the original end date.
A statewide ban on fireworks, campfires, smoking and shooting with tracer, or military, ammunition put in place July 4 will also be lifted in select areas as of 12:01 a.m. today.
However, the ban is still in place for areas west of I-15 in Utah, Salt Lake, Tooele and Box Elder Counties, said Tracy Dunford, fire management officer with the Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands.
There have been no major fires in Utah County since the County Commission's ban was put in place. Before the ban, however, the county had responded to several dangerous, expensive fires.
The Moffida fire that burned into the Mercer fire near Lake Mountain west of Utah Lake was determined to be related to target shooting.
That fire complex destroyed nearly 8,495 acres with 3,300 of those blamed on the Moffida fire, said fire information officer Teresa Rigby.
"Although it may not be a really common cause of fires, it is a documented cause of fires," Rigby said of shooting.
"When we first did it, we were told that there was a danger, and there was a danger," said Commissioner Gary Anderson. "I know you can start a fire by shooting, because this guy has done it," Anderson said, motioning to Ellertson who sheepishly raised his hand.
Now with hunting season approaching, everyone's goal is to still keep the fire numbers low.
"My hope is that the public will continue to be as diligent and careful about not starting a fire as we go forward, as they have for the last month and a half," Ellertson said. "I think we need to compliment them for their responding to this in a positive way, even though it wasn't what (they wanted)."
During the ban, the county provided another shooting option in Thistle at the Utah County sheriff's shooting range Fridays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Fridays weren't too popular, but each Saturday, Tracy said nearly 100 people showed up to shoot.
The range will stay open to the public, and the commission said they will work with Tracy, whose administrative budget was drained from all the overtime, to keep the range open.
Tracy also agreed that most people had been compliant and said when officers found people shooting who didn't know about the regulations, they gave them warnings and the people quickly left.
Dennis Barker, fire marshal for Utah County, said he was nearly overwhelmed by phone calls and e-mails from people wanting to ensure they understood the rules.
In each e-mail response Barker explained the goal was not to stop shooting and limit recreation, but to stay safe and eliminate fire potential.
"During that time this was enacted, the fires just stopped," he said of the ban. "(Before the ban) our fire crews were absolutely dead. Now they're ready to go."
Although some shooters may have been put out by the ban, the serious outdoors person will respect it, said Elwood Powell, president of the Utah State Rifle and Pistol Association.
"Most of them understand the seriousness and the danger and will tolerate and understand why a ban like that is imposed," he said.
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