This year’s Fourth of July is a major celebration for the nation, 250 years since the United States’ founding fathers adopted the Declaration of Independence.
It unfortunately comes during a critical time for Utah, as over 295,000 acres have burned across the state already this year. The majority of wildfires have come in the last two weeks, burning more acreage than the last four years combined, which prompted Utah Gov. Spencer Cox to issue an executive order banning the use of personal fireworks throughout Utah — sort of.
“I want people to be able to celebrate, and fireworks are part of that celebration — but this year we have to respond to the reality that is with us, not the one that we wish we had,” he said at an event overlooking the Bonneville Fire burn scar last week.
Jamie Barnes, the state forester and director of the Utah Division of Fire, Forestry and State Lands, officially signed off on the order a day after Cox’s declaration, which also allows for towns and cities to designate “safe zones” if they and firefighting agencies agree on safe locations where citizens can light personal fireworks Thursday through Sunday.
It’s slightly different from the regular law, which doesn’t give cities the option to ban fireworks outside of wildland-urban interfaces. This option provides cities more options, Cox said, noting that drought conditions have left many more areas across the state prone to fire starts this year, even inside city limits.
The order doesn’t apply to professional fireworks displays at events slated throughout the state, many of which will continue as scheduled this week.
“We invite residents and visitors to come enjoy our professional fireworks show that will be bigger and better than ever,” Sandy Mayor Monica Zoltanski said.
These communities announced their personal fireworks plans for the Fourth of July weekend.
Where personal fireworks are prohibited:
- All state, federal and unincorporated private lands
- Alpine
- American Fork
- Blanding
- Bountiful
- Cedar Hills
- Centerville
- Duchesne
- Dutch John, Daggett County
- Eagle Mountain
- Erda
- Fillmore
- Fruit Heights
- Grantsville
- Hinckley, Millard County
- Hooper
- Huntsville
- Hurricane
- Junction, Piute County
- Kamas
- Lehi
- Lindon
- Logan
- Milford, Beaver County
- Moab
- Monticello
- Mt. Pleasant
- North Salt Lake
- Ogden
- Orem
- Park City
- Price
- Provo
- Roy
- Salt Lake County, including all of its cities
- Saratoga Springs
- South Ogden
- Stockton, Tooele County
- Tooele
- Vineyard
- Washington City, Washington County
- West Bountiful
- Woods Cross
Where fireworks are allowed, in designated zones:
- Amalga, Cache County
- Ballard, Uintah County
- Beaver, although residents are asked to “join (the city) in supporting our firefighters and first responders by refraining from setting off personal fireworks.”
- Brigham City
- Castle Dale, Emery County
- Cedar City
- Clearfield
- Clinton
- Delta
- Enoch, Iron County
- Farmington
- Garland, Box Elder County
- Green River
- Hyde Park, Cache County
- Hyrum, Cache County
- Kaysville
- Layton
- Lewiston, Cache County
- Manila, Daggett County
- Mapleton
- Naples, Uintah County
- Payson
- Plain City
- Richfield
- Roosevelt
- Santaquin
- Smithfield
- Spanish Fork
- St. George
- Sunset
- Vernal
- West Point
Still not sure?
The Utah Department of Public Safety posted some of this year’s decisions online, but some of its orders are from previous years. Residents should contact their local fire department using a nonemergency number to confirm whether they are allowed in their community and, if so, where they may go.
Violations of the state’s law can result in fines up to $1,000. The state will also seek to hold a person who starts a wildfire through fireworks or other reckless behavior responsible for covering the cost of putting out the fire, Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason said last week.
Cox’s order lasts through the holiday weekend, before fireworks are illegal to discharge anywhere again after Sunday. A similar order could be issued Pioneer Day weekend (July 22-25), conditions permitting.
Should the order not be renewed, many cities may resume their regular fireworks restrictions maps from recent years.