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County adopts 30‑day emergency resolution banning fireworks in county parks and mirroring Forest Service restrictions
Summary
The Utah County Commission adopted a 30‑day emergency resolution effective immediately that bans fireworks in county parks and will mirror U.S. Forest Service restriction level 1 for other open‑fire rules; the resolution passed 3–0 with language to mirror exemptions and include on/off‑duty first responder exceptions and enforcement options.
The Utah County Commission voted unanimously on June 23 to adopt a 30‑day emergency resolution declaring extreme fire danger and imposing temporary restrictions in county parks, including an immediate ban on fireworks.
Ben (identified in the hearing as a County Attorney’s Office representative) presented a draft resolution and explained options for enforcement and penalties. He said the Forest Service and state were at "restriction level 1," which allows fires in developed pits and grills but bans fireworks and certain incendiary devices; the resolution adopted by the commission was modified to "mirror" those Forest Service restrictions for county parks while the county refines final language.
Commissioners agreed to separate fireworks enforcement from the question of allowing fires in developed pits; they supported an immediate fireworks ban with stronger penalties while leaving decisions about developed pits aligned with Forest Service guidance and county discretion. During debate, the county attorney referenced a possible penalty of $1,000 per offense for fireworks if the commission wanted to adopt that level; commissioners also accepted a friendly amendment to explicitly exempt on‑duty and off‑duty firefighters and peace officers acting in an official capacity.
The commission approved the modified resolution 3–0. The resolution is effective immediately for 30 days; staff were directed to post signs in affected parks and issue a county press release to notify the public. The county attorney said staff would revise the ordinance language to reflect the commission’s direction before final publication.
