Fireworks ban? Sparks fly over governor's declaration

Summit County and Park City had already passed their own bans, effective shortly after the Fourth of July.

The Herriman City Council, which meets on Thursdays, had time to get the issue on its agenda for this week and is expected to vote on the ban.

The West Valley City Council, meanwhile, discussed a fireworks ban at its study meeting Tuesday afternoon but didn't vote on the issue that night. Members of the City Council wanted more time to consider the issue, West Valley spokesman Aaron Crim said.

Cottonwood Heights, Midvale, Sandy, South Jordan, Riverton and Taylorsville opted not to take part in the fireworks ban, although officials from those cities said enforcement of existing fireworks laws would be increased.

Because of time constraints for city councils, Davis County residents also aren't likely to see any all-out bans on fireworks for the upcoming holiday.

In Bountiful and Centerville, fireworks are prohibited east of Davis Boulevard and 400 East. Mayors and city managers in Davis cities west of I-15 don't foresee much fire danger, and although they don't expect to ban legal fireworks, their police departments will be out in force to catch those who use illegal fireworks.

Other city leaders questioned whether an all-out ban is legal.

"It's a huge thing to put the city in that predicament," said Trina Klinger, spokeswoman for Sandy. "We do acknowledge the governor and his request. However, it is within state law that we cannot ban as a city."

Fireworks vendor TNT Fireworks sent out a news release Wednesday citing a state law that the company also contended would "prohibit cities, counties and towns from enacting bans on the sale and use of Utah-legal fireworks."

Despite the legal questions, Salt Lake County Council members said they were in favor of following the governor's call, although they also said it was too late to do so. Salt Lake County Councilman Michael Jensen said a fireworks restriction is something the state needs to look at long term, especially since Utah is the second-driest state in the nation.

"At some point, the Legislature needs to revisit the idea of having legalized fireworks," said Jensen, who is also a deputy fire chief.

In southern Utah, Washington County officials pulled the plug on a planned fireworks display for the Fourth of July, because of the region's high fire danger. But St. George Mayor Dan McArthur said that while he agrees with the governor that the fire danger is high throughout the state, he is not convinced it is necessary to ban personal fireworks in his city.