Huntsman calls for a fireworks ban

Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. signed an emergency declaration Tuesday calling for local officials to ban personal use of fireworks in their areas because of wildfire dangers.

"With our state already coping with unprecedented loss of life and property due to record wildfires, extraordinary measures are called for," the governor said in a news release. "We must work together to protect life and property in these unusual circumstances."

The Utah Division of Air Quality immediately seconded Huntsman's call. The division noted in a news release that fireworks are a hazard "not only because of wildland fire dangers but also because fireworks pump fine-particulate pollution in the air, prompting an unhealthy spike in air pollution that makes it difficult for people to breathe."

Because of the severe fire danger, such a ban is already in effect for most federal and state lands, including national parks, the governor said. "I am asking local leaders to join me in taking a step beyond those guidelines already put in place at the federal and state levels."

The possibility of extending the ban has some fireworks vendors worried.

"Will it affect our business?" wondered Anthony Abdullah, sales manager of Phantom Fireworks, a fireworks distributor in Evanston, Wyo. "It very well could."

Even so, state health officials said Tuesday that an extended ban would benefit residents' health.

On the Fourth of July, many state air monitors found levels of fine-particle PM 2.5 pollution that violated federal safety standards. The air-quality division said high levels were recorded in areas around small gatherings or neighborhoods or families shooting off their own fireworks, not just around professional fireworks displays.

Short-term exposure to particle pollution can aggravate asthma attacks and lung disease, the division said, adding that people with heart disease may have heart attacks and arrhythmias because of short-term exposure to fireworks pollution.

"Traditionally, the air monitors record extremely high concentrations of fine particulates associated with fireworks displays after the Fourth of July and Pioneer Day," said Cheryl Heying, director of the Division of Air Quality. "Those most impacted by the unhealthy air pollution are young children, older adults, pregnant women and people with respiratory problems."