The Bureau of Land Management provided a location for the public to legally set off personal fireworks displays at the Bonneville Salt Flats for the July 4th holiday. The opening offered an alternative for those seeking to participate in America 250 festivities despite statewide restrictions.
While traveling from Salt Lake County requires approximately an hour and a half, the salt flats offer a location where there is very little that can catch fire.
The availability of the salt flats provided some hope for local vendors facing a statewide fireworks ban. Peggy Rackley, who operates a stand in Stansbury Park, noted that her sales were at approximately 1% of what they were during the previous year, marking her worst year in 17 years of business.
Rackley stated that her location is the second closest to the flats and observed customers planning to travel there to use fireworks.
Ashley Snipes with the BLM noted that while the agency typically sees around 500 people annually, they expected at least double that number for this year's holiday.
The Bureau of Land Management requested that visitors pack out all refuse to prevent messes in the recognizable area. Snipes mentioned that volunteers often clean up left-behind trash and noted that while the agency planned to hand out trash bags, they might not have enough for every visitor.
Additionally, Snipes reminded vendors that selling at the flats is only permitted if they have already obtained a permit.
