Proactive enforcement urged as Midvale sets firework boundaries
Jun 04, 2024 11:52AM ● By Travis Barton
Fire marshal says safest way to enjoy fireworks is at a professional show, like the upcoming Harvest Days. (Stock photo)
As firework season nears, Fire Marshal Brad Larson gets anxious, enough for his wife to notice.
“As we get closer (to July), I get nervous for the safety of my community,” he told the Midvale City Council in April adding, “my wife says I’m a wreck” on July 4 and July 24, the two primary firework days of the year.
Larson is the Unified Fire Marshal, and he was presenting an updated map for firework restrictions this year. He had a little message to preach to the public.
“The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a professional shoot, such as Harvest Days,” he said. “Have kids use glow sticks instead of sparklers.”
The updated map, unanimously approved by the City Council, aims to better define firework boundaries along clear, identifiable lines such as roadways or trails.
Previously, the city restricted fireworks along Jordan River, over Salt Lake County parks within Midvale and most of the Jordan Bluffs neighborhood. While those restrictions remain in place, the new map expands restrictions creating a further buffer around the Jordan River by running the boundaries along roadways rather than the previous iteration that went through some backyards.
Additionally, city parks will be included in the firework restrictions including Midvale City Park, Midvale Cemetery, Adams Street Park that runs along I-15 north of Copperview Recreation Center, Fire Station 125 Park, Fire Station 126 Park, Fort Union Park and the city hall property known as Constitution Park.
Though restrictions expanded, Councilmember Dustin Gettel—who lives near the Jordan River and says fireworks are still ignited there—urged proactive enforcement.
“If we expand the area of firework restrictions, we also need to have some form of enforcement that’s not reactive,” he said, since the danger will have already happened after
the fact.
Larson said they will have staff patrolling restricted areas with funding set aside for overtime patrols on July 4 and 24. The focus will be to educate and be visible to the community while getting the word out on social media.
“Fireworks do make me nervous…these restrictions are very important,” he said.
Maps will be made available starting in June for the entire valley where fireworks are allowed: July 2-5 and July 22-25 between 11 a.m. and 11 p.m. except for July 4 and 24 where they can go until midnight. According to state legislation, people violating the restrictions can be fined up to $1,000. λ