Overview
- Governor Spencer Cox declared a wildfire state of emergency and suspended limits on local fireworks rules so municipalities could set their own policies.
- The Utah State Forester issued a default ban on personal fireworks that takes effect where towns did not designate discharge zones.
- Cities had a June 30 deadline to choose between full consumer-fireworks bans or limited discharge areas and many jurisdictions, including Salt Lake County, opted for total bans.
- Officials point to worsening drought, strong winds and active large fires that have stretched crews and led to recent firefighter deaths, increasing urgency around fireworks limits.
- About 75% of Utah’s 2026 fires have been started by people and the pyrotechnics industry expects heavy sales for the U.S. 250th, prompting officials to urge commercial displays or safer alternatives.