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Fire chief says community largely complied with July 4 fireworks ban; small fire and two citations reported
Summary
Ogden Fire Chief Slater told the City Council the community largely complied with a citywide fireworks ban over July 4, reporting one small home fire (estimated $5,000) and two citations, and said three off‑duty firefighters were sent to assist a large out‑of‑state wildfire under a state MOU.
Chief Slater told the council that Ogden’s ban on fireworks produced far fewer incidents over the July 4 weekend than in previous years, praising residents and city departments for compliance and rapid response. “We estimate the damage to that fire was about $5,000,” he said, describing a single small house fire that residents extinguished before engines arrived.
The chief said police issued two citations for improper discharge at the same address and made two arrests after officers stopped people throwing fireworks from a vehicle. He said those arrests uncovered unrelated criminal history and weapons in the vehicle.
Slater described how the ban freed local firefighter capacity: because the department did not contend with multiple large incidents in Ogden, it assigned three off‑duty firefighters and an engine to assist a large wildfire near Monticello under the state mutual‑aid MOU. “We anticipate they’ll be there for 4 to 5 days,” he said, noting the deployment protected homes in Monticello and Blanding.
City staff said the governor’s emergency directive established the statewide framework that led municipalities to impose local bans, and they await the state forester’s evaluation before deciding whether to extend the local restriction through the July 24 weekend. The chief said the city is monitoring monsoonal rain forecasts and will follow state guidance before changing local rules.
No formal enforcement policy change was announced; the chief said officers and fire prevention staff were out during peak times and that units were staffed to improve response if the ban remains in effect.
