The South Jordan Fire Department encouraged residents to take proactive steps to prevent fire-related accidents during the summer season. The department noted that hot and dry months bring a heightened risk of fire during family gatherings, neighborhood cookouts, and firework displays.
Regarding fireworks safety, the South Jordan City enforces strict restrictions in high-risk areas. Residents were advised to check the city's interactive map to confirm where fireworks are permitted and to purchase legal fireworks only from licensed Utah vendors. The fire department recommended igniting fireworks on stable, level surfaces away from buildings, vehicles, grass, or trees, and suggested using cinder blocks or bricks to stabilize aerial fireworks. Additionally, children under 16 are not legally allowed to use fireworks. To prepare for emergencies, residents should have water nearby and soak used fireworks in a bucket before disposal.
The fire department also highlighted common household hazards. Smoking materials should be extinguished completely and disposed of in non-combustible containers rather than in dry landscaping or out of car windows. For outdoor grilling, grills should be kept 10 feet away from homes or overhangs and never left unattended. Yard maintenance advice included clearing dry grass, weeds, and debris from around the home, and avoiding the burning of yard debris such as weeds, seeds, or limbs.
Due to the proximity to open spaces, South Jordan faces an increased risk of wildfire. The Ready, Set, Go! Program was highlighted to help residents prepare. This includes creating defensible space by clearing flammable vegetation within 30 feet of a home and trimming trees. Residents were encouraged to monitor local alerts via the South Jordan emergency notification system and to leave early if they feel unsafe, even if an official evacuation order has not been issued.
To protect homes, the fire department recommended inspecting or installing working smoke, carbon monoxide, and flammable gas detectors on every level of the home. Residents were also asked to avoid the vicinity of active fires or smoke to prevent obstructing emergency vehicles on narrow residential streets. More information and resources are available on the South Jordan Fire Department website.
