State forester to issue fireworks order; cities must use preexisting maps or submit requests by 1:00 p.m. tomorrow

The state forester will issue an order today that links local fireworks restrictions to municipalities' preexisting maps and gives cities a short window to request expanded limits, officials said at a Utah League of Cities and Towns webinar on July 20.

"It will not be a full statewide ban," Jamie Barnes, the state forester, said, adding that municipalities will be able to submit maps and justification statements if they want to extend or tighten restrictions in their jurisdictions. The Pioneer Day fireworks discharge period under state law runs July 22 through July 25.

League staff explained the key procedural difference from the July Fourth round: instead of a statewide ban with opt-outs, the default this time is each city's council-approved May/June fireworks map. Cities that want to expand restricted areas, shorten allowable days or seek a citywide ban must upload an updated map and a brief justification to a Google form the forester's office will provide. The form will be due by 1:00 p.m. tomorrow, the panel said.

Jamie Barnes said her office has assigned a review team and is streamlining the submission form to capture the specific conditions that justify a stricter restriction, such as localized dry fuels, low soil moisture and other hazards. "We're assigning a team to this that we believe will give a timely review," Barnes said.

League staff emphasized who must sign off locally. Where applicable, a mayor and the local fire chief must jointly determine the city's request; the forester's office will accept a letter documenting that joint decision, the presenters said.

The panel also clarified limits on authority: the forester cannot change the statutory definition of fireworks (the order covers consumer fireworks defined as 1.4G; sparklers and other excluded items are not within that definition) and cannot regulate where vendors sell fireworks. Cities considering vendor controls must rely on other state law or local regulation, the panel said.

Cameron, a league officer leading the webinar, said the forester will likely issue an initial order today and a follow-up order tomorrow that lists approved municipal requests. "If you're using your existing maps, you need not submit anything to the forester," he said. "If you want to extend those maps or request a full ban, you'll submit that by 1:00 p.m. tomorrow."

Officials urged clear local communications to avoid confusing residents: only requests approved by the forester will be enforceable under the upcoming order, and cities should explain the factual basis for local decisions (including local fire department capacity and any resource-sharing commitments).

The forester's office will review submissions against the statutory authority cited on the call (referenced as 65 A-8-212) and the submitted local justifications. The panel said it recorded the webinar and will circulate the order, the Google form link and a recording by email to participants.

Next steps: cities that want to alter their May/June maps should prepare a short justification statement, create or update the fireworks map, and upload both to the Google form before the 1:00 p.m. deadline tomorrow. The forester's follow-up order will publish which municipal requests the office approved.