Fireworks Safety Tips
July 19, 2000--
The heat is on for the upcoming 24th of July holiday weekend, and it's not just the temperature outside.
Firefighters are desperately aware of the dangerous combination of tinder dry grass, temperatures near 100 degrees, and thousand of people setting off tens of thousands of fireworks.
Starting Friday, it will be legal to start using fireworks, except in places where they have been banned.
For most Utahns, this weekend is another cause for celebration. For the people responsible for putting out fires, it's cause for concern.
Just days ago, huge fires raged in Red Butte Canyon,
Millcreek Canyon
and
Farnsworth Peak.
During the July 4th weekend, fire crews were called out to another fire on an average of once every ten minutes.
And if the forecast holds, firefighters can look forward to a similar sizzling weekend coming up.
Battalian Chief Mont Cooper/Salt Lake County Fire Dept.: "WE'RE VERY WORRIED ABOUT THIS WEEKEND. THE WEATHER CONDITIONS HAVEN'T LET UP AT ALL."
Fireworks are still banned in the foothills and canyons of Salt Lake City.
And a number of cities have banned fireworks outright.
Fruit Heights, Park City and Herriman prohibit fireworks and South Ogden only will allow them at the two city parks.
County firefighters hope the ban helps, but they still expect to be so busy that they've hired an extra wildlands fire crew.
Mike Watson/Salt Lake County Fire Wildlands Supervisor: "WITH ALL THE FIRES WE'VE HAD-- MILLCREEK CANYONS, RED BUTTE, AND SOME OTHER LOCAL FIRES IN DRAPER AND KEARNS, SOME GRASS FIRES. WE'VE JUST BEEN RUNNING RAGGED, REALLY WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE DEMAND."
The crew has been through intensive training this week.
Salt Lake County is posting signs at all the canyons.
Arson and fire prevention teams are patrolling the out of bounds areas.
Battalian Chief Mont Cooper: "WE ASK YOU TO ENJOY YOURSELF. HAVE A GOOD TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY. HAVE A HOSE OR BUCKET RIGH THERE THAT YOU CAN PUT YOUR FIREWORKS IN."
Fire officials say they didn't cite many people during the 4th weekend, they just confiscated fireworks. But this weekend will be different.
Battalian Chief Mont Cooper/Salt Lake County: "WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE AS LENIENT OVER THE 24TH. WE WILL CITE PEOPLE."
That citation will likely be a class B misdemeanor, which could mean six months in jail and a $1000 fine.
And remember, the last day you can light fireworks legally is July 27th.
