SALT LAKE CITY — Governor Spencer Cox will allow cities to decide if they want to ban fireworks entirely or not for the upcoming Pioneer Day holiday.
At an event for the Days of '47 Rodeo on Monday, FOX 13 News asked Gov. Cox what he intended to do with his emergency order set to expire on Tuesday. The governor announced a "hybrid plan." Some communities, he explained, have received significant monsoon moisture, while others remain dry.
"The Wasatch Front has not had much moisture at all. We're still as bad or maybe worse than we were on July 4th in some cities, much better off than others. We have some cities that have received more water than they receive in two or three months, and so it's safe to have fireworks in those places. So what we will do is that kind of blanket ban will go away. We'll let the mayors and cities determine whether to have bans and where in their cities," he said.
Under the new guidance, a city or town can revert back to their fireworks restrictions set before the governor issued the blanket ban. But communities that want to go further can notify the Utah State Forester, who will allow an all-out ban. Cities who wish to implement bans have to notify the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire & State Lands before the holiday.
"Recent precipitation has improved conditions in many areas, but not everywhere," Utah State Forester Jamie Barnes said in a statement. "This process gives communities flexibility while ensuring we can quickly implement additional restrictions where local fire conditions warrant them. We encourage everyone to check with their city before using fireworks."
Barnes told FOX 13 News earlier this month there was a likelihood the ban would be extended.
Gov. Cox's Fourth of July ban was designed to prevent more catastrophic wildfires. He suspended state law that prohibited cities from banning fireworks entirely, instead enacting an all-out ban and allowing communities to decide if they wanted to have them. Some communities did allow fireworks, determining the risk wasn't as great as other parts of the state. Moab declared a state of emergency on its own and banned fireworks. Utah has seen some of the nation's largest wildfires and communities were concerned with fireworks starting up. But recently, parts of the state have experienced flooding, clearly reducing the wildfire risk in those areas.
Still, Gov. Cox warned wildfire conditions remain dangerous.
"Fireworks are always dangerous. I would still encourage people... let's be very thoughtful about it. Be prepared for any scenario if you are going to light fireworks, even if you are in a place that has had and inch-and-a-half of rain over the last week, still be still be very prepared," he said.
A spokesperson for Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson said that she would keep the ban on fireworks on unincorporated areas of Utah's most populous county in place. Midvale and West Valley City told FOX 13 News they would not change their bans from the Fourth of July.
"Given the State Forester's assessment that fire risk remains very high across most of Utah, Midvale City has decided that a citywide fireworks ban through the Pioneer Day holiday is the most responsible course of action for the safety of our residents," Midvale Mayor Dustin Gettel said in an text message.
Other cities FOX 13 News contacted said they were still evaluating the latest guidance.
Stay with fox13now.com and FOX 13 News for the latest on this breaking news.
