An untraditional Fourth of July: Cities put restrictions on fireworks

The traditional Fourth of July with smoke bombs, aerials and firecrackers most people are used to may look a little different this year. 

With Utah being plagued with drought this year, the state is taking action to enforce specific restrictions for each city. 

Some cities like Woodland Hills, Henefer and Elk Ridge have banned all fireworks for 2021. Other cities like Clinton, Blanding and Woods Cross have no restrictions on fireworks at all. 

Most of the other cities in Utah, including Logan, have off-limits locations for lighting fireworks near mountains, parks or high-risk fire areas.

However, there has been some confusion regarding whether or not cities legally have the power to determine their own firework restrictions. 

According to Deseret News, this confusion began after the Salt Lake City mayor, Erin Mendenhall, announced a citywide ban against all fireworks. 

Even though Mendenhall told Deseret News she was “very confident” in their legal standings, others aren’t so certain.

According to Utah Law, cities may choose to prohibit the discharge of fireworks in some areas “with hazardous environmental conditions” if they provide a map and distribute it properly.

The specifics are up for interpretation considering that the whole city could potentially be labeled as a hazardous environment.

Deseret News also shared that Peter Asplund, from the Office of Legislative Research, said in an email that “while many municipalities could use this provision to limit fireworks throughout a significant area of each municipality, attempting to prohibit them throughout an entire municipality would seem to violate both the letter and intent of the statutory limitations.” 

Either way, ensuring safety for all citizens and land seems to be the common ground that each city can agree upon. 

Holly Daines, the mayor of Logan, said the restrictions in place are necessary and she knows cities are doing their best to try to encourage residents to be smart.

She also said people should be considering other alternatives to festive celebrations. 

“Everyone from the governor to many mayors to most fire chiefs are pleading for people to skip fireworks this year given the conditions,” Daines said.

And Daines isn’t the only one hoping people will make the right choice. 

During a news conference on Wednesday, Gov. Spencer Cox said, “I’m imploring you, each of you — to do the right thing. And the right thing this year is to put your fireworks away.”

The Roy location of Phantom Fireworks, a popular fireworks company in the U.S., however, has a different approach to this year’s celebrations.

The manager at the Roy location, who chose to remain unnamed, said they think restrictions on fireworks aren’t necessary. They believe as long as people have common sense, like they should every year, then we have nothing to worry about. 

“A lot of the fires that are ever started are either because people are drunk or not lighting in places where it’s safe and Phantom is really passionate about safety as well,” another manager stated, “so if you have your water source available and just follow all of the safety suggestions, the chance of a fire is low.” 

However, the National Fire Protection Association reports that an estimated 19,500 fires were started due to fireworks in 2018.

Not only that, but 28% of those fires were caused on the Fourth of July and 59% of firework fires are from forests, bushes or grasses, which is especially alarming given Utah’s current drought conditions. 

Although, these statistics don’t say what, if any, safety measures were taken when the firework fires were started.

Even so, Harrison Roberts, a firework stand employee for TNT Fireworks, also agrees with Phantom Fireworks’ point.

“I feel like whether or not people actually buy fireworks, most people have the common sense to not go around burning stuff down,” Roberts said. “The restrictions feel unnecessary to me for sure.”

Not all citizens agree with this logic though. Jennifer Bryner, a Cache County resident stated that even though these restrictions have caused her family to have to change their normal plans, she believes that the restrictions are in place for a reason and are absolutely necessary.

This could be a reason why some firework stands may see a decrease in sales this year. 

Phantom Fireworks said they haven’t seen a decline in sales yet. However, Roberts with TNT Fireworks said he has noticed that people are a little more hesitant this year to buy the bigger fireworks such as aerials.

Daines, as well as other mayors, also still understand that not everyone may choose to follow proper protocols, especially considering that COVID-19 put a dent in festivities last year. 

“Logan will be paying for overtime shifts for police and fire to enforce the ban in critical areas, and to have more staff available if a response is needed,” Daines said, “I truly hope folks will use good judgment this year and not take risks which could impact many others if a fire gets started.”

For more specific information regarding Cache County restrictions, you can visit https://firemarshal.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2021/06/Cache-County-2021-Firework-Restrictions-PDF-Map.pdf.

Jacee.Caldwell@usu.edu

@JaceeCaldwell