SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Governor Spencer Cox has ordered temporary statewide restrictions on personal fireworks through the July Fourth holiday, citing extreme wildfire conditions that state officials say have created some of the most dangerous fire behavior in Utah's recent history.
The executive order, announced on Thursday and effective through July 5, authorizes the Utah state forester to prohibit fireworks statewide while allowing cities and towns, working with local fire officials, to designate specific areas where fireworks may still be used safely if conditions permit, according to the governor's office.
The action comes as Utah faces a severe wildfire season marked by prolonged drought, hundreds of wildfires and strained firefighting resources. State officials said the restrictions are intended to reduce the risk of additional human-caused fires during the Independence Day holiday, when fireworks traditionally contribute to wildfire ignitions. More than three-quarters of Utah's wildfires this year have been caused by human activity, according to the governor's office.
"Nothing about this decision was easy," Gov. Spencer J. Cox said in a statement released by his office. "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."
Jamie Barnes, Utah state forester and director of the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, said current fire conditions are unprecedented in recent memory.
"We're seeing fires spread farther and faster under conditions that defy historical expectations," Barnes said in the governor's announcement.
The restrictions allow municipalities to determine whether to identify designated locations for fireworks use in consultation with local fire officials. Several cities, including Salt Lake City and Provo, have announced broader local prohibitions on personal fireworks through July 5, while some communities were still determining how to implement the governor's order. Professional fireworks displays may continue where permitted and where organizers comply with applicable safety requirements, according to local authorities.
The order follows worsening wildfire conditions across Utah, including the rapidly expanding Cottonwood Fire in southern Utah, which officials have described as the largest active wildfire in the United States. High temperatures, strong winds and exceptionally dry vegetation have prompted red flag warnings across parts of the state and forced evacuations in several communities.
State officials said they will reassess wildfire conditions after the Independence Day holiday before deciding whether additional fireworks restrictions are needed for Utah's Pioneer Day celebrations on July 24.
