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Fire chief briefs council on Cottonwood fire and explains state fireworks rules
Summary
Washington City’s fire chief updated council on local crew deployments to the Cottonwood fire (reported at roughly 65,000 acres and identified as human‑caused) and reviewed state law that restricts municipal bans on consumer fireworks while allowing mapped local restrictions; the city’s map and guidance were posted to the website.
Washington City Fire Chief Evans told the council that city crews were deployed to the Cottonwood fire in Beaver County for structural protection and that the city’s engine crews have rotated through the incident’s initial response phases. The chief said the fire grew quickly overnight, reporting acreage that rose from under 30,000 acres to about 65,000 acres during the response and that, at that size, the fire ranks among the largest in Utah’s history.
Chief Evans explained that local engines were performing structure‑protection work and establishing defensible space around properties rather than engaging in full suppression in the high‑intensity zones. He also updated the council on the city’s new engine coming from the manufacturer and noted routine warranty repairs while the apparatus completes final shop work.
On fireworks, Chief Evans reviewed recent state guidance (citing Utah Code 53‑7‑225) clarifying that municipalities generally cannot ban consumer fireworks statewide; however, cities can adopt local restrictions that close certain fringe areas and direct recreational fireworks away from sensitive zones. He described Washington City’s approach: restricted areas on the city fringe and use of mapped permissible‑use zones in town. He urged residents to consult the city’s website and the state’s ‘Utah Fireworks’ map for the official list of permissible locations and times.
Council thanked the fire and public‑safety staff and noted concerns about shifting fire seasons and the need for public vigilance around professional displays and personal fireworks.
