Provo says light fireworks in city parks instead

PROVO, Utah — People can go to more city parks this year to light fireworks in a designated space around the 4th and 24th of July in Provo.

Provo Fire Marshall Lynn Schofield says by law he cannot ban fireworks, so this is a call for personal responsibility.

“The key to this entire program is the people who are going to buy and use fireworks. As far as government and fire department, we have done everything we can, there is nothing more we can do,” he said.

They increased the number of parks from 5 to 14 this year. They have fliers with safety information for the fireworks vendors to hand out. The campaign is called, “Just Because you Can; Doesn’t Mean you Should.”

“If you feel like you have to do it, then here are some recommendations, and we give some fire safety recommendations about clearances around your fireworks, having an extinguishing agent to put out small fires or duds, and going to the parks,” said Schofield.

The parks have steel dumpsters where people can safely dispose of the hot cartons and remnants of their fireworks.

Schofield says this way, people won’t be tempted to try to hide and light them off.

“They say to themselves, ‘I’ve got to do fireworks this year because it’s a tradition,’ I’m ok with that. As long as you do it smart, I’m ok with that,” he said.

He says a minor or juvenile faces around $4,500 in fines and fees after discharging fireworks that started a small brush fire on the Provo benches Monday night, in the Sherwood Hills neighborhood. Fireworks are illegal to use right now.

“If you make a mistake here are the consequences, and they are significant,” said Schofield.

---

Can Utah cities ban fireworks?

Follow @kslmrichards