Utah Gov. Spencer Cox has announced temporary restrictions on the use of fireworks in the state on the Fourth of July due to ongoing wildfires and severe weather conditions.
In a statement on Thursday, the Republican governor’s office said his state “faces extraordinary wildfire conditions that have produced hundreds of fires, exhausted firefighting resources, and created some of the most dangerous fire behavior in state history.”
On Friday morning, the National Weather Service’s (NWS) office in Salt Lake City issued a red flag warning for parts of the state due to dry conditions and gusty winds that could trigger fires, describing the alert as “an exceptionally rare event.”
“This is the FIRST Particularly Dangerous Situation Red Flag Warning issued in NWS Salt Lake City history,” it said in a social media post, which included a map of the warning area that covers much of the southwestern and central portions of Utah.
The governor’s office, in an executive order that lasts until July 5, said that the Utah state forester can prohibit fireworks statewide during the Fourth of July holiday, and local municipalities are also empowered to designate areas “where fireworks may still be used safely.”
“State officials will evaluate wildfire conditions before determining whether any restrictions are necessary for the July 24 Pioneer Day holiday,” the office said.
The announcement comes as the Cottonwood Fire, which started on Monday and has ravaged southern Utah, reached around 70,000 acres on Friday, officials said. The fire, which is one of several burning in the state, is currently uncontained, authorities added. It’s not clear what caused the fire.
Another wildfire, the Iron Fire, has burned around 40,000 acres and is only 26 percent contained, according to Utah Fire.
Rocky Mountain Power issued a public safety power shut-off watch and warning for portions of the state starting Friday and lasting through the upcoming weekend due to the threat posed by wildfires, according to the Utah Department of Public Safety. It cited a “critical weather pattern” that will start Friday and last until Sunday.
“Nothing about this decision was easy,” Cox said in his statement announcing the restriction of fireworks in the state. “Utahns love celebrating the Fourth of July with family, friends and fireworks. I do too.
“But this year is different. We are seeing fire behavior that even our most experienced firefighters say they’ve never witnessed before.
“This is a temporary measure for an extraordinary year. It protects lives and homes while allowing local leaders, working alongside their fire officials, to identify areas where fireworks can be used safely.”
His office noted that more than three-quarters of wildfires in Utah have been caused by people, noting that prolonged drought, dry vegetation, and weather conditions have created conditions in which fires can easily spread.
A significant portion of Utah is currently in a severe-to-extreme drought, according to the Drought Monitor, a project managed by several federal agencies and the University of Nebraska that uses metrics to measure drought in the United States.
According to Cox’s office, residents are advised to check local restrictions before using fireworks, report any wildfires or suspicious activity, and follow evacuation orders if necessary.
