Chief Stewart of the local fire district asked the Centerville City Council to continue the annual fireworks restriction on the East Bench, saying the department saw many human-caused wildfires in Utah in 2024 and is preparing for high-risk weather and fuel conditions.

The chief told the council that Utah recorded 961 wildfires in 2024, 544 of which were human-caused; those fires burned about 25,422 acres statewide and destroyed 74 homes, he said. He reported that so far in the current year the state had seen 68 wildfires, 62 of them human-caused.

Chief Stewart said rapid spring growth on the East Bench can dry quickly when warm, dry weather returns and create elevated risk. He described department steps for the season: increased training, coordination with the local fire warden, pre-positioning resources on red-flag days and considering staffing increases for high-risk periods. He asked the council to maintain the existing prohibited zone for fireworks on the East Bench for the coming season.

Council members asked about potentially changing the mapped boundary (several asked whether the restriction could extend lower on the hillside); Chief Stewart said the city could adjust boundaries but expected the statethrough implementation of House Bill 48to produce a wildland-urban interface risk map and a structure-protection scoring system that would inform or justify municipal boundaries for restrictions. He said the state will publish draft rules for public comment later in the year and that county site assessments required by the bill will affect how mitigation and fees are administered.

No formal council vote was required at the meeting; staff records indicate the city annually documents the restriction and that the chief's letter will be used to justify continuing the prohibition for this year.