Bluff adopts Wildland-Urban Interface map and bans fireworks in WUI through Oct. 31
Summary
Bluff’s Town Council adopted a Wildland-Urban Interface overlay map and passed ordinance 2026-06, restricting open fires and prohibiting fireworks inside the WUI immediately through Oct. 31, 2026; the fire rules adopt the 2024 code language to avoid near-term revisions.
Bluff — The Bluff Town Council voted July 7 to adopt a Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) overlay map and to pass ordinance 2026-06, tightening local fire restrictions and prohibiting the ignition or discharge of fireworks inside the town’s WUI boundary until Oct. 31, 2026.
Mayor Josh Ewing and councilmembers said the map and ordinance are intended to give the town a defensible, legally grounded basis to restrict fireworks inside higher-risk areas while questions remain about statewide rules enacted by Governor Cox. Councilmember Britt Hornsby and Mayor Ewing said adopting the overlay map makes a town-level fireworks prohibition in the WUI justifiable under state guidance shared in a Utah League of Cities & Towns webinar.
The council discussed a complication that some locally zoned parcels are classified as Zone 4 under state rules and may require state approval before being included in the locally drawn overlay. Staff noted Utah will not implement the 2024 building codes until Jan. 1, 2027; the draft ordinance therefore adopts the 2024 code language now to reduce the need for immediate revisions next year.
Ordinance 2026-06 repeals and replaces ordinance 2026-04 to restrict open fires within Bluff and to allow contained charcoal, gas, propane and electric grills provided water is present. The ordinance expressly prohibits fireworks within the Town of Bluff Wildland Urban Interface Zone. The ordinance was presented as effective immediately; the council adopted it by roll call with Hornsby, Davila, Ewing and Wade voting in favor and Gary Haws recorded as abstaining.
Council members noted the restrictions are tied to observable fire danger and can be relaxed if conditions improve. Staff signaled the map and ordinance will be used only to enforce restrictions within the WUI boundary, not to ban fireworks across the entire town.
The council did not set additional enforcement details in the meeting; staff will finalize ordinance language and administrative procedures as needed.
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