Utah governor orders ban on fireworks as wildfires rage across state

Utah Governor Spencer Cox has declared a state of emergency, imposing a temporary ban on personal fireworks through July 5 in response to a severe wildfire season. The executive order grants the state forester authority to prohibit fireworks across Utah, overriding a recent law that limited local authorities' ability to enact such bans.

"It's not about taking decisions away from local communities. In fact, we want to put local knowledge at the center of this process," Cox stated during a press conference. While the state's default remains a fireworks prohibition, local fire chiefs can still permit their use if conditions allow, aiming to balance safety with local input.

“

It’s not about taking decisions away from local communities. In fact, we want to put local knowledge at the center of this process.

Utah is currently battling nine active wildfires that have consumed over 143,000 acres. The state has experienced 373 wildfires this year, with approximately 100 attributed to natural causes and the rest to human activity. The Cottonwood fire, discovered Monday, is described as the state's most destructive, burning nearly 72,000 acres with zero containment and forcing the closure of Eagle Point ski resort.

The ban follows a "particularly dangerous situation red flag warning" issued by the Salt Lake City National Weather Service, the first in its history. Smoke from the fires is impacting air quality across the state, affecting popular tourist destinations like Zion and Bryce Canyon national parks. Conditions are expected to worsen with an incoming heatwave across the Western U.S.

“

We think this strikes the right balance.