Fireworks ban expires as Utah weighs Pioneer Day restrictions

ST. GEORGE, Utah (KUTV) — Gov. Spencer Cox’s executive order imposing a temporary statewide ban on fireworks has expired, leaving state officials to decide what restrictions, if any, will be in place for Pioneer Day on July 24.

The statewide ban expired July 5. State and unincorporated county areas remain under Type 2 fire restrictions, which prohibit fireworks and open flames. Cities are responsible for setting their own restrictions.

“I think going into Pioneer Day, the restrictions are going to have to be what they were for the Fourth of July,” said Jason Bradley, director of emergency management for Washington County. “Nothing’s changing. The fuels are still what they are. Everything is super dry.”

Bradley said the fireworks restrictions were “very successful” in Washington County, with no significant wildfires started. However, he said there were still violations that caused house fires and property damage.

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“There were plenty of violations. I saw dozens and dozens of calls throughout the night,” he said. “Our dispatch was inundated with people calling saying, ‘Hey, people are starting fireworks in my neighborhood.’ There’s only a few areas where that was allowed.”

Bradley said it is a “very tough political call” to tighten restrictions for cities and the state.

“Those leaderships have a lot at stake. There’s a lot of commerce that’s at stake. Your political folks understand the financial ramifications for vendors of fireworks, and they understand our desires as really the citizens of America that we want to do that,” he said. “But there are other safer ways to celebrate this year. The problem is so bad right now that I see the leadership, the political leadership, needing to do something like that again for the 24th.”

Bradley said officials are exploring alternatives for Pioneer Day, including a designated area where people could legally use fireworks.

“We’re hoping that we could come up with a location for the county for unincorporated areas that we might be able to allow those people to come do fireworks. It’s in the works. We just want to try to have somewhere for folks to do it besides just a few parks here in St. George,” he said. “But again, we’re pretty dry. Those efforts could fall through. We’re going to see if we can’t come up with something.”

Bradley added that even a single fire can divert resources needed to patrol for fireworks violations, making enforcement difficult. He said anyone who causes a fire can be held criminally, civilly and financially liable for the damage.

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