Fireworks are back for most southern Utah cities after recent rains led the governor to move to a “hybrid” policy rather than the ban that was in place over July 4.
St. George • Washington County cities are loosening their grip on personal fireworks just in time for Pioneer Day, reversing the sweeping bans enacted during the Fourth of July.
The change follows Gov. Spencer Cox’s announcement this week of a “hybrid” policy. The new rule allows municipalities to decide if personal fireworks are permitted over Pioneer Day weekend, while enabling cities in areas with high fire risks to collaborate with the state forester on bans.
Reversing course from a wave of holiday bans enacted just weeks ago, most municipalities in Utah’s fifth-largest county are reinstating original compliance maps to permit personal fireworks, even as a few cities in fire-prone areas are holding out.
The change contrasts sharply from Independence Day, when every city in the county other than St. George and Enterprise opted to ban consumer fireworks.
Washington City officials attribute their Pioneer Day pivot on fireworks to recent storms they say have sufficiently dampened the area’s wildfire risks.
“Recent monsoons and higher humidity levels have decreased the fire risk and we are reverting to our maps that we submitted to the state in May,” Mayor Kress Staheli said in a text. “We are [still] restricting fireworks in the areas of our city that present the highest risk.”
Washington City will also move forward with its traditional 10 p.m. professional fireworks show at Veterans Park, according to city officials. Similarly, the Tuacahn Center for the Arts in Ivins plans to host its display, though weather could disrupt the event.
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“If there are unexpected winds or other adverse weather conditions that night, the fireworks would be canceled,” warned Ivins Mayor Kevin Smith, who also serves as Tuacahn’s CEO and executive producer.
Other cities are embracing a return to normal. In St. George, officials recently pointed to a safe Fourth of July as evidence that responsible personal fireworks use and public safety can coexist. City officials in the county’s largest city plan to follow the same blueprint for Pioneer Day, allowing fireworks in 19 municipal parks and other designated areas.
In Leeds, north of St. George, residents can only set off fireworks at the outdoor basketball court behind the Town Hall at 218 N. Main Street, according to officials.
Holding the line
Not every community is changing course. Springdale and Virgin are maintaining blanket firework bans because of their high wildfire risk.
“We are in an extreme fire danger area. In fact, our whole town is in what they call the WUI (wildland-urban interface) area,” said Springdale Mayor Barbara Bruno, noting the gateway town to Zion National Park has not allowed holiday fireworks for years and the town council voted in May to ban them through the end of the year.
“There are some who like fireworks,” the mayor added, “but I think this year everybody is glad that we made a decision not to have them, even the fireworks lovers.”
In nearby Virgin, the town council voted in June to ban fireworks indefinitely, according to municipal clerk Krystal Percival.
The more relaxed rules have left some residents uneasy. Hurricane resident Brenna Stucki said recent rainfall has not erased months of dry conditions.
“My personal opinion is that allowing fireworks is not a good idea because of how dry it has been,” she said. “Yes, we have had some rain this month. But that does not mean everything is fine. It is still dry everywhere.”
Wildfire is a constant threat in Washington County, which ranks in the top 3% nationwide for fire risk.
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