SOUTHERN UTAH – High fire danger has prompted increased restrictions on fireworks, open burns and any other activities with a potential fire hazard.

New pyrotechnic restrictions for 2013 allow state-approved class C fireworks to be sold and purchased throughout Utah from June 23 to July 27 and Dec. 29 to 31. Citizens can discharge fireworks from 11 a.m. to midnight on July 4 and 24, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 1-7, 21-27 and 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.

The laws on open burns (defined as household or natural waste, cooking and recreational/campfire burns), remain the same. Citizens must not burn highly flammable, explosive or toxic materials, keep sufficient extinguishing methods ready, never burn during windy conditions and never leave a burn unattended. Failure to obey these laws may result in a class B misdemeanor charge or higher if damage to property or injury occurs.

Due to high fire danger in Southern Utah wildlands, Color Country Interagency Fire Management implemented Stage 1 fire restrictions for the area on June 20. These restrictions will remain in effect as needed.

Because of special circumstances, fire restrictions in certain areas may be regulated beyond state law by a municipality or federal, state or local agency. It is important to pay attention to and abide by the laws and codes enacted by the municipality or agency in which you live or recreate.

Below is a list of additional restrictions currently in effect in Southern Utah; check with your municipality for zoning specifics. Information is subject to change as environmental conditions vary and STGnews readers are encouraged to check this report regularly for updates. An interactive map and further details on fire restrictions can be found here.

Apple Valley

Fireworks can be discharged during state-approved times only on the Smithsonian Fire Department grounds, located at 1777 North Meadowlark Drive in Apple Valley. Citizens must receive advance permission from the town fire chief. Using pyrotechnic devices anywhere else within Apple Valley is prohibited at all times.

Brookside, Central, Gunlock and Veyo (Northwestern Special Service District)

Absolutely no fireworks or open fires of any kind will be allowed at any time.

Dammeron Valley

No additional restrictions.

Enterprise

No additional restrictions are in place at this time, but fireworks regulations are currently under consideration by the city.

Hildale

No additional restrictions.

Hurricane, LaVerkin, Toquerville and Virgin (Hurricane Valley Fire District)

No additional restrictions are in place at this time, though some regulations are currently under negotiation with the municipalities in the district.

Ivins

Fireworks are allowed only on July 4 and 24 from 11 a.m. to midnight. Aerial fireworks are prohibited.

Leeds

Fireworks are only allowed at the Leeds Town Park Basketball Pad on July 4 and 24 from 6 to 11 p.m.

Rockville and Springdale (Rockville/Springdale Fire Protection District)

No open fires or fireworks will be allowed until October, with the exception of devices using liquid petroleum fuels, natural gas or charcoal briquettes, fires in approved fire pits on private land or campgrounds, model rockets, toy pistols, emergency signal flares, snake or glow worms, party poppers, trick noisemakers, matches and wire sparklers under 12 inches long.

Santa Clara

Aerial fireworks are prohibited.

St. George

No fireworks of any kind are to be used within 250 feet of the following areas:

• Dry washes and drainages
• River and stream corridors
• Hillsides, plateaus and mesa tops
• Undeveloped open space or natural terrain Information on restrictions and an interactive map of those restrictions (areas where fireworks are and are not permitted) can be found on the City of St. George website.

Washington City

Additional restrictions in place per Executive Order signed by the Mayor in effect June 28 following until rescinded.

• Prohibited – In restricted areas, see map of restricted areas:
  • Kindling, maintaining or authorizing the kindling or maintaining of any open fire of any kind except those fire authorized as recreational fires kindled or maintained in permanently improved places of habitation; i.e., backyard fire pits.
  • Discharging or using any kind of fireworks, pyrotechnic or otherwise incendiary devices.
  • Cutting, welding or grinding metal or other spark producing operations within 30 feet of dry vegetation.
  • Mowing or otherwise cutting dry vegetation after 10 a.m.
• Allowed – Legal consumer fireworks may be discharged in the following areas:
  • In clearly marked areas of the the parking lot of Washington Ballfield Complex next to the soccer field of Community Center Drive, and
  • In clearly marked areas of the parking lot of the East entrance of Pine View Park.

Unincorporated areas of Washington County (Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands)

• Open fires of any kind, except campfires and charcoal fires within agency-approved fire pits and grills provided in developed recreation sites, are prohibited. Devices fueled by petroleum or LPG products are allowed in all locations.
• Smoking, except in an enclosed vehicle, building, developed recreation site or area cleared of all flammable materials is prohibited.
• Use of any firearms, fireworks or other pyrotechnic devices (including exploding targets) is prohibited.
• Cutting, welding or grinding metal is not allowed in areas of dry vegetation.

Brian Head

• Open fires of any kind, except campfires in improved areas with a spark arrestor over the flames, are prohibited.
• Smoking, except in an enclosed vehicle, building, developed recreation site or area cleared of all flammable materials is prohibited.
• Use of any firearms, fireworks or other pyrotechnic devices (including exploding targets) is prohibited.
• Cutting, welding or grinding metal is not allowed in areas of dry vegetation.
• Creating or using any other ignition source in areas with flammable materials and prohibited.

Cedar City

No additional restrictions are currently in place, though the Cedar City Fire Department strongly recommends only using fireworks in the parking lots of Cedar High School, Constitutional Softball Park, Canyon View Middle School and like areas.

Kanab

Fireworks are prohibited in all areas south of Kanab Creek Drive, all areas west of 300 West and all areas east of the cemetery on 600 East, including the Kanab Creek Ranchos and Cedar Heights neighborhoods. The Kanab Fire Department strongly discourages the use of fireworks in any location with obvious fire hazards, such as dry vegetation and man-made flammable materials.

Unincorporated areas of Southern Utah (Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands)

• Open fires of any kind, except campfires and charcoal fires within agency-approved fire pits and grills provided in developed recreation sites, are prohibited. Devices fueled by petroleum or LPG products are allowed in all locations.
• Smoking, except in an enclosed vehicle, building, developed recreation site or area cleared of all flammable materials is prohibited.
• Use of any firearms, fireworks or other pyrotechnic devices (including exploding targets) is prohibited.
• Cutting, welding or grinding metal is not allowed in areas of dry vegetation.

Arizona Strip District and Color Country District (Bureau of Land Management)

Arizona Strip District

• Using a fire, campfire, charcoal, coal or wood stove outside a developed campsite or picnic area in the Virgin River Campground and the Arizona side of the Stateline Campground is prohibited.
• Use of a device fueled by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels that can be turned on and off is allowed only in an area that is barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materials within three feet of the device.
• Smoking, except in an enclosed vehicle, building, developed recreation site or area cleared of all flammable materials is prohibited.
• Use of fireworks, flares or other incendiary devices is prohibited.
• Welding or the use of any torch or metal cutting equipment is prohibited.

Color Country District

• Campfires, except in permanently constructed cement or metal fire pits provided in developed campgrounds and picnic areas, are prohibited.
• Charcoal burning in developed campgrounds or picnic grounds within permanent fire rings or grills constructed of metal or concrete is allowed. In undeveloped camping locations, charcoal must be set in metal pans in areas clear of flammable vegetation within three feet in diameter.
• Devices fueled by petroleum or liquid petroleum gas are allowed in all locations.
• Grinding, cutting and welding metal is prohibited.
• Using any internal or external combustion engine without a spark-arresting device properly installed, maintained and in working order is prohibited.
• Use of fireworks and other exploding devices is prohibited.

Bryce Canyon National Park, Zion National Park and Grand Canyon National Park (National Park Service)

• Using a fire outside a fire structure that is provided by the NPS within a designated area (agency-approved fire pits and grills provided for in developed recreation sites and picnic areas.) Stoves or grills that are solely fueled by liquid petroleum fuels are allowed in all locations.
• Smoking, except in an enclosed vehicle, building, developed recreation site or area cleared of all flammable materials is prohibited.
• Using any kind of fireworks, ammunition or other incendiary devices in any location on federal lands is always prohibited.
• Watchman Campground and South Campground in Zion National Park are closed to campfires due to the abundance of highly flammable cheat grass.
• As of July 10, Grand Canyon National Park will lift all fire restrictions due to decreased fire danger.

Dixie National Forest (U.S. Forest Service)

• Use of any fire, including charcoal and briquettes, outside a fire structure that is provided by the Forest Service within a designated area (campgrounds, picnic areas and other developed recreation sites) is prohibited. Stoves or grills that are fueled solely by liquid petroleum fuels are allowed in all locations.
• Smoking, except in an enclosed vehicle, building or area at least three feet in diameter that is clear of all flammable materials, is prohibited.
• Using any kind of fireworks, ammunition or other incendiary devices in any location on federal lands is always prohibited.
• The upper ends of Forest Roads No. 032 and No. 037 as well as the Oak Grove Campground are currently closed due to fire danger. All other campgrounds are open.

Shivwits Indian Reservation (Bureau of Indian Affairs)

• Use of any fire outside of a fire structure provided within a designated area is prohibited. Stoves or grills that are solely fueled by liquid petroleum fuels are allowed in all locations.
• Smoking, except in an enclosed vehicle, building or area at least three feet in diameter that is clear of all flammable materials, is prohibited.
• Using any kind of fireworks, ammunition or other incendiary devices in any location on federal lands is always prohibited.

Wildfires are an all-too-common occurrence, each summer threatening the well-being of Southern Utahns. By playing a role in fire prevention, every citizen can contribute to a safer community. Tips on how to be fire-smart can be found here.

Resources

• UtahFireInfo
• InciWeb Wildfire Incident Information System
• FireWise
• Color Country Interagency Fire Management
• Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands
• Dixie National Forest
• Bryce Canyon National Park
• Zion National Park
• Bureau of Land Management Color Country District
• Bureau of Land Management Arizona Strip District

Related posts

• Summer fire safety; prevention, awareness benefit communities
• Officials urge residents to prepare for upcoming fire season
• Wildland-urban interface firefighting optimized through deliberate training; STGnews Videocast
• Human Attention Means Fire Prevention: Tips to Stop Human-Caused Fires
• Fire mitigation efforts save homes

UPDATED June 26 to reflect new restrictions in Grand Canyon National Park.

UPDATED June 29 to reflect additional restrictions in Rockville and Springdale.

UPDATED July 1 with restrictions in Brian Head.

UPDATED July 4 with restrictions in Washington City.

UPDATED July 9 to reflect changed restrictions in Grand Canyon National Park.

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