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Manti fire chief urges ban on private fireworks amid 'unusual' fire behavior
Summary
Manti Fire Chief Elliot Anderson told the council on July 1 that fire behavior this season is unusually dangerous and urged residents not to set off private fireworks; the council did not enact a local ban while a governor's emergency restriction (July 2–5) remains in effect but warned that private fireworks are unsafe and could expose people to liability if fires result.
Manti Fire Chief Elliot Anderson told the City Council on July 1 that current fire conditions are unusually severe and that private fireworks “should not happen this year.” Anderson said Manti’s volunteer firefighters logged more than 500 hours in June and that crews have been sent to assist on multiple large wildfires in the region.
Anderson described fire behavior he said he has not seen before, including juniper burning aggressively and extremely tall flames that sometimes make it unsafe to place firefighters between the blaze and structures. “These are the kinds of fires that can burn down cities,” he said. He added that well‑prepared homes can still be lost when embers reach vulnerable areas such as eaves.
Mayor‑Pro‑Tem Mary Pipes and the council discussed a governor’s emergency order banning fireworks from July 2 through July 5 and noted that the order allows professional displays if local officials determine conditions permit. The council declined to adopt a separate city resolution at the meeting but said it might revisit the issue before the July 24 holiday period if conditions change. Officials said a professional fireworks show could proceed only if the fire chief and local public‑safety officials sign off based on wind, weather and available resources.
Anderson urged broad public messaging via the city website and social media and warned that enforcement of private‑fireworks prohibitions would primarily be handled by law enforcement; if a private fireworks‑caused blaze occurs, the person responsible could face liability for fire‑suppression costs. He also said many people who set off fireworks in Manti last year were visitors from other cities and that there were about 12 small fires on the evening of July 4 last year, with some debris landing on homes and churches.
The fire chief also recommended considering responsible grazing as a longer‑term fuel‑reduction strategy, noting that cow and sheep trails can help break up continuous fuels when done without overgrazing.
No formal local fireworks ban was adopted at the July 1 meeting; the council’s public message was that there is no safe place in Manti for private fireworks this season and that residents should defer to officials about any professional display.
