June 15, 2000
Can you imagine a 4th of July with no baseball, hot dogs, or apple pie?
What about no fireworks?
It sounds downright un-American, but because of the high potential for fires, there will be no fireworks allowed in many places along the Wasatch Front come America's birthday.
News Specialist, Stacey Butler has the story.
Luckily there haven't been any wildfires in Salt Lake County, yet.
But scrub oak acts like gasoline, especially when it's green.
One spark could rip through a canyon in no time at all.
"THERE'S PLENTY OF FUEL OUT THERE THIS YEAR TO BURN. IT LOOKS GREEN RIGHT NOW AND IT LOOKS NICE, BUT IT'LL BURN."
It's one of the hottest, driest June's on record. Add high winds to that and you've got the perfect recipe for a wildland fire.
As a preemptive strike, fire investigators are cracking down on all fireworks around the perimeter of the valley. They've never taken such drastic measures this early in the season.
But the Salt Lake County fire chief says more and more homes are being built in areas susceptible to wildland fires.
Chief Don Berry/Salt Lake County Fire Dept.: "MANY AREAS IN SALT LAKE COUNTY HAVE THE HOMES THAT INTERFACE WITH THE WILDLAND AREAS, AND IF A HOUSE FIRE GETS INTO THE WILDLAND AREA OR VISA-VERSA THEN WE COULD HAVE A MAJOR PROBLEM."
Starting today, if you light fireworks in certain areas of Salt Lake County, you will not only be fined up to $1,000 and be charged with a misdemeanor, you could spend six months in jail.
Restricted areas include:
-
EAST OF WASATCH BOULEVARD
- SOUTH OF HIGHLAND DRIVE IN DRAPER
- WEST OF U-111
- SOUTH AND WEST OF THE TOWN HERRIMAN
- EMIGRATION CANYON
Fire authorities will be patrolling the unincorporated County and handing out citations.
"WE WILL HAVE AS MANY AS TEN PEOPLE CHECKING TO MAKE SURE THOSE WILDLAND RESTRICTIONS ARE ENFORCED."
The ban will take place immediately.
If you set off fireworks in these areas, not only will you be fined, you will also have to pay for all costs related to fighting the fire.
