Governor Spencer Cox announced Thursday temporary statewide fireworks restrictions in response to extreme wildfire conditions that have exhausted state firefighting resources and produced dangerous fire behavior across Utah. The executive order, issued June 25, allows the state forester to prohibit fireworks throughout the state during the July 4 holiday period.
Governor's new fireworks restrictions
In his announcement on June 26, Governor Cox stated that Utah is currently facing extraordinary wildfire conditions. He noted that these conditions have resulted in hundreds of fires and have created some of the most dangerous fire behavior recorded in the history of the state. The governor emphasized that these active fires have significantly exhausted available firefighting resources.
Local flexibility for municipalities
The executive order issued on June 25 enables the state forester to implement a statewide prohibition on fireworks during the upcoming July 4th holiday. However, the order provides flexibility for local governments, allowing municipalities to consult with their local fire officials to designate specific areas where fireworks may still be used safely.
The current restrictions are scheduled to remain in effect through July 5. State officials have indicated they will continue to monitor the situation and evaluate wildfire conditions before making a determination regarding whether additional restrictions will be necessary for the July 24 Pioneer Day holiday.
Duration of current restrictions
These statewide measures coincide with increased federal-level fire prevention efforts. On June 25, the Bureau of Land Management announced the implementation of Stage 2 Fire Restrictions specifically for BLM Utah Public Lands.
New BLM Stage 2 restrictions
The Stage 2 Fire Restrictions issued by the Bureau of Land Management include a strict prohibition on all open fires of any kind. Under these federal restrictions, smoking is prohibited except when performed within a vehicle or an enclosed area.
Adhering to state and federal rules
Furthermore, the Bureau of Land Management's restrictions prohibit any grinding, cutting, or welding of metal. The order also mandates that any operating or use of an internal combustion engine must be equipped with a spark arresting device to prevent accidental ignition during this period of high fire danger.
Prohibitions on metalwork and engines
The overlapping restrictions from the Governor's office and the Bureau of Land Management aim to mitigate the risk of new ignitions during a period of extreme drought and high fire activity. Residents and visitors to Utah public lands must adhere to both the state-level fireworks limitations and the federal Stage 2 prohibitions regarding open flames and engine use.
