LOGAN – Mayor Mark Anderson has explained the decision of city officials to extend Logan’s strict ban on private fireworks through the upcoming Pioneer Day holiday on July 24.
“Conditions are worse in Cache Valley now than they were 3 weeks ago,” Anderson emphasized in a July 21 e-mail to Cache Valley Daily. “With all the fires doing damage all over the state, we have limited resources to combat a large fire in Cache Valley if one were to start.”
“We just can’t take that risk,” he concluded.
Logan officials have confirmed that they are maintaining the existing private fireworks restrictions, pointing to a local grass fire that nearly burned out of control.
Anderson said that the extended ban is in keeping with the governor’s most recent guidance regarding fireworks and with the approval of Jamie Barnes, the State Forester.
In late June, Gov. Spencer Cox announced temporary statewide restrictions on private fireworks during the Independence Day holiday period of the July 4 weekend.
Cox said those restriction were necessary because Utah faced extraordinary wildfire conditions that had already produced hundreds of fires, exhausted firefighting resources and created the most dangerous fire behavior in state history.
On July 20, however, Cox returned fireworks restriction authority to municipal officials as conditions have improved somewhat with much of the state receiving monsoon downpours that have caused some localized flooding.
But that rainfall hasn’t happened here in Cache Valley, Anderson reminds residents.
“So it’s difficult for me to go against what our Fire Chief and Fire Marshall are telling me,” the mayor said. “Our plants and grasses are so dry that they are burning much faster than usual. Very small fires that would normally be easily contained are expanding faster than expected.
“Too many small fires are popping up with very limited ignition points,” Anderson points out. “If we add fireworks to the mix, then we will have hundreds of potential ignition points.”
Logan is by no means alone in extending fireworks restrictions. Officials in North Logan and Providence have joined Logan in imposing a total ban on private fireworks through the Pioneer Day holiday, as have Mendon and Petersboro.
Smithfield has scaled back its zone in which fireworks are allowed and Nibley officials are only permitting private fireworks west of State Route 165.
Professional pyrotechnic displays at Utah State University and in the cities of Logan, North Logan and Mendon will proceed as scheduled.
Anderson expressed gratitude for the Logan community’s support in observing the fireworks restriction over the July 4 holiday and asks for similar support to keep the city safe during the upcoming Pioneer Day holiday.