Utah leaders reminded the public to reserve 911 calls for emergencies and utilize non-emergency lines for other matters as many Utahns prepared for Fourth of July celebrations. Dispatch officials reported an increase in fireworks-related complaints and anticipated that call volumes would continue to climb through the holiday weekend.
The Weber Area Dispatch 9-1-1 Center, which serves Weber County, Morgan County, and several cities in Box Elder County, noted that the Fourth of July is consistently one of the busiest periods for dispatchers. Scott Freitag, deputy director of Weber Area Dispatch 9-1-1, stated that call volumes can see a spike of as much as 10 to 15 percent.
Dispatchers encouraged people to report emergencies involving fireworks, such as injuries or fires. However, for complaints that do not involve immediate danger, officials requested the use of the non-emergency line so that 911 operators could respond quickly to life-threatening situations. Freitag also noted that residents should report fireworks being used in areas where fire danger is especially high.
Many Utah communities implemented fireworks restrictions due to wildfire concerns and dry conditions. Local resident Aubery Matthias expressed support for the bans to help take care of the community.
Weber Area Dispatch planned to have additional staff working through the holiday weekend to manage the expected increase in calls. Officials also stated that law enforcement officers would enforce fireworks restrictions in communities where they were in place.
