Hot topic

There are no comments for this page [ Add Comment ]

Most cities don't plan on banning fireworks on July 24th, but all want residents to use good judgment

LAYTON -- City officials here say they will not impose a citywide ban on fireworks, but are urging residents to be "wise in their judgment" when it comes to their use of fireworks.

The hot, dry weather spurred Gov. Jon Huntsman late Tuesday to request that municipalities across the state ban fireworks for the July 24 Pioneer Day celebration.

However, the request may have come too late for many cities that do not plan to meet as councils again until after the holiday.

Layton Mayor Steve Curtis said the city acknowledges the governor's request and, in compliance with it, has implemented a strict ban of all fireworks east of U.S. Highway 89.

The city, prior to receiving Huntsman's request, Curtis said, had already posted on its Web site "a request for citizens to restrict themselves" when it comes to firework use.

The city would not have to go through a council vote to impose a citywide ban on fireworks, Curtis said, because the fire chief has the authority to implement such a ban.

However, city officials opted not to put a citywide firework ban in place because of the drain it would place on city resources to enforce it, he said.

Layton is not celebrating the July 24 holiday with a fireworks display. Instead, a free concert by Riders in the Sky at the Ed Kenley

Amphitheater and the annual Davis Chamber of Commerce-sponsored Taste of the Town event will be available to residents.

Fruit Heights, which sits along the east bench of the county, said it would probably honor the request, mainly due to its location.

"We plan to support it," Fruit Heights City Manager R. Brandon Green said. "It's a great idea; with us along the east bench, we already know it doesn't take much to start a fire."

Green said it's too late to put the information in the city newsletter, so he's not sure if the information will get out by word of mouth or fliers.

Since the city receives its fire service from Kaysville, the city plans to talk to Kaysville's fire chief and follow his direction, Green said.

However, Green said the city doesn't plan to ban fireworks by ordinance.

"Fireworks is what people want to do to celebrate our independence and our pioneer heritage," Green said. "We will look at banning fireworks on a year-by-year basis."

Neighboring Farmington will not impose a citywide ban. City Manager Max Forbush said he didn't think the city council would be able to act on the request as there were no plans to meet until after the 24th.

Currently, there is a fireworks ban in place for anything east of 200 East (State Road 106) and anything east of Main Street. He said this covers all of the foothills.

"We are very supportive of the concept," he said. "There is already a restriction in place (for the foothills). Meanwhile, we encourage anyone using fireworks in other areas to do so very, very carefully."

Earlier, Fire Chief Larry Gregory said he was aware of the governor's request and would probably be asking the city to support it.

"Things are bad enough right now. There is no sense in tempting it. The danger levels are high enough I'll support the governor's request," he said.

Police officers in Bountiful plan to strictly enforce the fireworks and open-burn restrictions already set in place by the South Davis Metro Fire Agency and state and local ordinances.

Police officers will issue citations to anyone setting off any fireworks or igniting fires in restricted areas. Officers will also issue citations to anyone found setting off illegal fireworks anywhere in the cities served by the fire agency.

Restricted areas include: Centerville/Bountiful -- East of 900 East from Island View Drive in Centerville to 400 North in Bountiful; Bountiful/North Salt Lake -- East of Bountiful Boulevard from 400 North to Eagleridge Drive in North Salt Lake; West Bountiful -- No restrictions.

Cities in West Davis County also don't have any plans to ban fireworks, partly because of their distance from the foothills. City officials in West Point, Clinton and Sunset said they did not have plans to initiate a ban at this time.

Comments

Add a comment...

Name:
Comment:
Security Code:	Type the characters to the left in the box exactly as they appear.
Your IP:	38.103.63.60 This address is recorded for security purposes.