Salt Lake City firefighters remind residents of fireworks ban

SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake City firefighters are going door-to-door in an effort to remind residents of the city’s ban on fireworks this Fourth of July holiday weekend.

Salt Lake City Fire Department Chief Karl Lieb said he is worried about fireworks being let off in the city despite the ban.

“It’s a major concern,” he said to KSL NewsRadio before going into the neighborhoods with his crews. “Our environmental condition is ripe for fire, thus the city-wide ban on fireworks and all open flames as well.”

.@ChiefLieb briefed the crew at the station #7 before they left to talk to their neighbors pic.twitter.com/avVTGcBxo4

— Mary Richards (@kslmrichards) July 2, 2021

Lieb said his firefighters are reaching out to the community in hopes of preventing any fires over the weekend. Additionally, Lieb said that in a two-hour window his first responders can reach several hundred residents, informing them and answering any questions they may have.

Still, with as much work as the firefighters have done to get the word out, Lieb said his department is preparing for the worst.

“We are always optimistic what is going to happen over the holidays in July,” he said. “But we have to be realistic as well.”

.@slcfire heading out to knock on doors and talk to people about this year’s fireworks ban in the city pic.twitter.com/PW0gbT9Qet

— Mary Richards (@kslmrichards) July 2, 2021

Lieb wants people to enjoy the holiday, and hopes that they will. However, he wants them to do it this year without fireworks.

“We want people to celebrate the holiday,” he said. “But there is a lot of different versions of celebration that don’t involve active fireworks.”

If Salt Lake City residents want to let off fireworks, they must travel to an area where they are allowed. Lieb offers some simple tips to keep everyone safe.

“Do so with an extinguishing agent nearby,” he said. “And do so with adult supervision of course and make sure they are nowhere near the ignition point when the firework goes off.”

Lieb also said, if the individual is caught, the penalty for letting off fireworks in Salt Lake City boundaries is a Class B misdemeanor and a fine of up to $1,000.

And there is more.

“They will also be responsible for any liability,” the Salt Lake City fire chief said. “Which will be pursued to the fullest extent of the law.”  

The ban also includes small fireworks including smoke bombs and sparklers.

Here is the flyer they are handing out pic.twitter.com/0nIcKfXanT

— Mary Richards (@kslmrichards) July 2, 2021

Read more:

• TNT Fireworks considers suing over city bans in Utah, sees dip in firework sales
• Utah governor: Skip out on personal fireworks this summer
• Fireworks sales not booming as Utah officials call for residents to forgo personal shows this summer