ST. GEORGE — Despite the drought dragging on, the enthusiasm for explosions of potassium nitrate, charcoal and sulfur – otherwise known as black powder – for the Fourth of July is not drying up. In fact, in most Southern Utah cities, there are fewer restrictions than there were a year ago.
Drought conditions haven’t exactly improved since July 4, 2021. Overnight Thursday, the National Weather Service said St. George Airport had its first measurable rainfall since April: 0.001 inches.
However, while several such as like Santa Clara, Ivins, Enoch and Hurricane restricted fireworks to certain city parks last year, there are fewer Southern Utah localities doing the same this year.
Last year saw what was described as “a lot better” as far as fewer incidents in Southern Utah and the rest of the state after more restrictions on fireworks usage were imposed. It also helped that the holiday fell on a Sunday in 2021, leaving celebrations to be more spread out between Saturday and Monday.
The area will see fewer restrictions this year, including Hurricane going from restricting all fireworks to no restrictions. But that doesn’t mean there’s free rein to fire away anywhere to celebrate freedom. There are a lot of areas throughout Southern Utah where all fireworks are still prohibited, especially woodland areas.
David Cordero, spokesperson for the City of St. George, used two Cs: Celebration and caution.
“The anniversary of our nation’s independence is a reason to celebrate,” Cordero said. ¨The City of St. George urges its residents to celebrate with gusto but also in a responsible manner utilizing every available caution.”
On Thursday, Color Country Interagency Fire managers added Beaver County to Washington, Iron, Kane and Garfield as counties where fireworks are strictly prohibited. If you’re not within the boundaries of a city or town, shooting off fireworks is illegal in Southern Utah.
“Our goal is to reduce human-caused fires by using the tools available to us,” said Mike Melton, who helps manage fire response in Southern Utah for the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands.
But even away from the unincorporated woods and desert, cities have some streets where fireworks are allowed, and others where they are not. One house may be free to light up a home show on the street in front, while the neighbors around the block cannot.
Andrew Parker, fire chief with the Santa Clara-Ivins Fire Department, also it’s a good time to leave the black powder to the blacktop.
“What I would say is make sure people are discharging on a blacktop-type surface,” Parker said. “Common sense is a term overused, but it’s just common sense not to set them off on vegetation. Use as directed as it says on the box. Look up, look around and anticipate where those things might go.”
Per state law, each city can set its own restrictions on places, dates and times fireworks can be used. Interestingly, state law does not allow for a municipality to ban the use of holiday fireworks entirely. Though the state government has yet to enforce its own rule, many cities –including some in Southern Utah – have mandated full bans anyway.
The state government also sets which fireworks are legal to use by the general public and which are not – though cities can also add additional restrictions, as in the case of Toquerville, which bans all aerial fireworks.
As far as asking which fireworks are legal in Utah, it’s more of a case of asking which are not.
All “Class C” fireworks are legal in Utah with the exception of those listed by the state as “dangerous explosives” in legislation passed and signed by then-Gov. Gary Herbert in 2011.
That does include some aerial fireworks that can go as high as 150 feet, such as multiple tube, repeater or cakes with under 500 grams of pyrotechnics lit by a single fuse.
As for when the same fireworks can be purchased and used in all of Utah, the dates they can be on sale are June 24-July 25 and Dec. 29-31, according to the Utah State Fire Marshall. While cities are likely to place additional restrictions on dates and hours, they can’t actually be used except for July 2-5, July 22-25 and Dec. 31 (11 a.m. to 11 p.m.), with those hours extended to midnight for the July holidays and to 1 a.m. for New Year’s Eve.
Below is a list of specific fireworks available for purchase are legal to use in the state of Utah, according to state code, as well as those that are illegal. Also included is a listing of the restrictions, if any, in most local cities as well as where there will be large public displays and fireworks shows for the Independence Day holiday.
Whether you can use consumer fireworks in St. George will depend on where you’re standing.
Similar to 2021, the city has restricted fireworks usage to certain neighborhoods and parks. And not every park will be a fireworks zone.
The city has published an interactive map that can be accessed here that includes the 16 city parks where fireworks can be used. A good rule of thumb: If you’re near the hills or amid vegetation, fireworks may not be workable.
The largest restricted areas are the open area between Tuweap Drive and Warrior Way, all of Tech Ridge and the Black Hill area, Cottonwood Cove Park, Town Square Park, the Dixie Sunbowl, Pioneer Park and much of the area north of St. George Boulevard and east of 100 East.
In addition, no fireworks are permitted within 200 feet of dry washes and drainages, river and stream corridors, hillsides, plateaus and mesa tops and undeveloped open space or natural terrain.
Along with residential fireworks that are restricted in Utah, sky lanterns, or Asian-style mini hot air balloons made of paper, also are prohibited in St. George.
Those violating any of the restrictions face up to a $1,000 fine.
St. George is also home to the largest Fourth of July celebration and fireworks display in Southern Utah: The KONY Country 4th of July Celebration .
The event at Utah Tech’s Greater Zion Stadium will feature a concert by country music chart-topper Dustin Lynch, political commentator Glenn Beck and will finish with a large fireworks show at 10 p.m., accompanied by narration and music that will be broadcast in the stadium and on KONY Country 99.9.
Canyon Media is the parent company of both St. George News and KONY.
Tickets to be inside the stadium are $24. There will also be a free fireworks viewing area at the Pioneer Encampment Mall on the Utah Tech campus.
“Anywhere in the downtown area makes a great viewing area,” said Cordero, noting that it’s also a safer alternative than trying to outdo the biggest fireworks show in town yourself. ¨If you are unsure how to safely use fireworks, it’s best to avoid them. Leave it to the professionals.¨
Because of restrictions on unincorporated county, state and federally administered public lands, there will not be fireworks at Brian Head’s annual Fourth of July celebration starting at 9:30 a.m. and lasting into the night. However, there will still be activities, food and three live bands. Admission is $10.
The same restrictions mean any fireworks are prohibited throughout the area.
The city has no restrictions on where legally purchased fireworks can be used, though they are prohibited in nearby unincorporated areas.
As is tradition, the city plans to fire off its own fireworks show from the city offices at 10 p.m. July 4 that should be seen throughout the area.
A year after all fireworks usage was banned within city limits in 2021, consumer fireworks are mostly banned again this year but will be permitted at certain designated sites.
As a City Council member a year ago, Nanette Billings was the only no vote on the no fireworks mandate , saying that people can govern themselves and will make good decisions.
A year later, Billings is now the mayor and has issued a proclamation in conjunction with the Hurricane Valley Fire District that fireworks will only be allowed at the following parks and ballfields: The Spillsbury Sports Complex (803 N. 200 West), American Legion Sports Complex (802 N. 200 West), Three Falls Park (889 S. 700 West) and Dixie Springs Park 3605 2900 South).
Hurricane is also hosting several Independence Day events from morning to night throughout the city from parades to breakfasts and bounce houses culminating in fireworks at Sand Hollow State Park at 10 p.m. that will be free to all Hurricane residents.
Repeating a move made in 2021 , the city of Ivins announced late Thursday that it is limiting any fireworks usage to the baseball fields at Ivins City Park and UNITY Park.
Ivins City Park is located at Main Street and 100 West, while UNITY Park is at 200 W. 400 South.
A map of allowed and restricted areas can be found here .
Parker also told St. George News that at least for the July 4 holiday, the Center Street Fire Station that has been unmanned since last fall will be fully staffed.
In addition, no fireworks are permitted within 200 feet of dry washes and drainages, river and stream corridors, hillsides, plateaus, and mesa tops and undeveloped open space or natural terrain.
Along with residential fireworks that are restricted in Utah, sky lanterns or Asian-style mini hot air balloons made of paper, are also prohibited in Ivins.
While there will not be a public fireworks show within city limits on July 4, there will be a fireworks spectacular at the Tuacahn Ampitheatre Saturday after the 8:30 p.m. performance of “Wonderland.”
Per local ordinance , LaVerkin’s fireworks restrictions change yearly based on which of four “stages” is announced by the City Council.
This year, Stage 2 was declared with some minimal restrictions. Fireworks in the city are permitted on any city street as long as it is at least 100 feet from any hillside, as well as at Wanlass Park (320 N. Main St.) and Riverwood Park (314 W. 900 North).
While there will not be a public fireworks display in the city, there will be an Independence Day Parade on Main Street at 8 a.m.
Instead of restricting fireworks use to certain parks like in 2021 , the Santa Clara-Ivins Fire Department and city officials are asking the public that while Gubler Park is still preferred, there are other areas of the city where the discharge of fireworks are permitted.
Much of the area where fireworks are allowed is north of Santa Clara Drive while also west of Canyon View, Red Mountain and Rachel drives. A map of allowed and restricted areas can be found here .
In addition, no fireworks are permitted within 200 feet of dry washes and drainages, river and stream corridors, hillsides, plateaus, and mesa tops, and undeveloped open space or natural terrain.
Sky lanterns, or Asian-style mini hot air balloons made of paper, are also prohibited.
There are no public fireworks shows scheduled within city limits.
In May, the Springdale City Council enacted an ordinance that made the use of all fireworks illegal in Springdale from June 1 to September 15.
There will be no fireworks shows in the city or nearby Zion National Park, but there will be a parade at 9 a.m. along Lion Boulevard and Winderland Lane.
After banning the discharge of any fireworks in the city limits in 2021, Toquerville is allowing them this year but restricting their use to two parks at certain times and also not allowing any aerial fireworks.
Per an ordinance passed by the Toquerville City Council on June 15, non-aerial fireworks can be used only at at Center Street Park at 250 W. Center St. and the Trail Ridge Estates Park at 1210 S. Arches St.
They are also limited to July Fourth and Pioneer Day on July 24, 7 p.m.-midnight, as well as the dates of Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, July 22-23 and July 25 from 7 p.m.-11 p.m.
A person who violates the ordinance faces a fine of up to $1,000.
While Toquerville doesn’t have a public fireworks show, it will have a July Fourth event with a parade, games and a breakfast from 7:30 a.m.-noon at Center Park.
Similar to its neighbor St. George, Washington City this year will have a patchwork of area and streets where fireworks are restricted and others where they are not. A map of the restricted and unrestricted areas can be found here .
Washington City isn´t known as much for the first patriotic holiday in July as it is for the second.
One of the larger Pionner Day celebrations and fireworks displays in the area is once again planned for the Washington City Community Center on July 23.
All fireworks are restricted, as they are in all unincorporated county, state and federal unincorporated lands in Utah this year.
Park officials are also urging people looking to visit the park for the Fourth of July weekend to plan ahead, as it is one of the busiest times of the year for visitors.
While the Cedar City Fire Department released a statement that discouraged personal firework use “as it can be life-threatening in a variety of ways,” fireworks are allowed in much of the city. A map of allowed and restricted areas can be found here .
The city also has set up several recommended areas to set off fireworks, including: south parking lot of Cedar High School; parking lot at the Bicentennial Softball Complex; Iron Springs Elementary parking lot; Canyon View High School parking lot; and the Aquatic Center parking lot. In addition, the street between the Bicentennial Soccer Complex parking lots will be closed to traffic for the use of fireworks on the state discharge dates.
But the fire department also said, “Our advice is to leave it to the professionals, or use a designated location in Cedar City.” And as usual, there will be a large public display at Cedar City Airport beginning at some point between 9:30 and 10 p.m.
Fireworks are not allowed in any area within Enoch city limits per an ordinance passed in 2012 except for two designated areas: The Enoch City Office paved parking lot at 900 E. Midvalley Road and the Enoch Elementary School west paved parking lot on Tomahawk Drive.
Enoch isn’t holding a public fireworks show on July Fourth, but there will still be taste buds on fire. The annual “Wings of Death” hot wings food eating contest will take place at 6 p.m. at Old Enoch Park, 1600 E. 5250 North.
There will be a fireworks show at the same park on July 24 for Pioneer Day.
The city only allows consumer fireworks to be shot off at one site: Lions Park at 145 S. 300 East.
The city has canceled its annual fireworks display at the Iron County Fairgrounds. However, the parade on Main Street at 9 a.m. and the games and activities to follow at the City Park in the middle of town are still on.
Beaver The city has no restrictions on where legally purchased fireworks can be used, though they are prohibited in nearby unincorporated areas.
A big, free Independence Day bash with fireworks at dusk will start at 7 p.m., at the Tushar Mountain 4 Plex (826 E. 600 North) that will include a live band, foam machine and free hot dogs.
The setting off of any consumer fireworks is prohibited in Bryce Canyon City as well as nearby Tropic except for two designated sites: The Ruby’s Inn Rodeo Grounds at 115 E. 100 North and the Tropic baseball fields on W. 100 South.
A free public fireworks show will also take place at the Rodeo Grounds at 10 p.m.
According to city code , both the use and sale of consumer fireworks are banned in Panguitch with the exception of sparklers.
What isn’t restricted is a free Independence Day fireworks show put on by the city at the Triple C Arena at 50 800 North.
Kanab Legal fireworks use is restricted to a small area of Kanab, but Independence Day is anything but small in Kanab, which is holding Fourth of July events from dawn to midnight including two public fireworks shows.
Touted as the “best small-town Independence Day celebration in the country,” it will start off with a bang at 6 a.m. with cannon fireworks being launched near the center of town. From there, Kanab does other things in twos including a parade that runs twice in the morning after a 5K run. The festivities move on to Jacob Hamblin Park (566 N. 100 East) for daylong entertainment and food before ending with a large fireworks show above the mesas after dusk.
For those who want to join in with their own fireworks, they will be limited to all areas south of 750 South, west of 300 West and east of 600 East. A map of allowed and restricted areas can be found here .
Fireworks are prohibited in all areas of Littlefield and Beaver Dam as an unincorporated area of Mohave County.
Consumer fireworks are permitted in all areas of the city as long as they don’t “endanger persons, buildings, structures, property, brush, automotive vehicles and/or equipment,” city ordinance says.
However, unlike Utah, no aerial consumer fireworks are permitted in Mesquite. Also differing from 40 miles up north, sparklers more than 10 inches in length and fireworks that travel more than 10 feet on the ground are not permitted.
Where Mesquite is more lenient is there is no time limit for when fireworks can be used but it is still limited to June 21-July 4 and Dec. 28-Jan. 1.
Those violating the fireworks ordinance are subject to as much as a $1,000 fine and up to six months in jail.
One way to see bombs bursting in the air without jail time is to leave it to the experts at the “Rockets over Red Mesa” show outside the Eureka Casino Resort on the Fourth. Fireworks will be launched from the mesa behind the casino at 9 p.m. PDT and a patriotic playlist will accompany the fireworks and be broadcast on 88.1 FM.
Fireworks safety tips courtesy of the City of St. George.
Treat fireworks-caused injuries , from Intermountain Healthcare :
What is the first thing I should do if a burn occurs?
The most important thing to do first is to make sure it is clean and dry. In all cases, you should be able to use a mild soap and lukewarm water to clean and sanitize the wound.
Using Neosporin or other topical ointment isn’t necessarily required in all situations. Sometimes, using it excessively can keep the wound moist and can delay the healing process to some degree. If you initially cleaned the wound and can keep it clean and dry, you may not need an antibiotic ointment at all.
How can I manage the pain if I’ve been burned?
Most individuals with burns can take Ibuprofen or Tylenol at the recommended over-the-counter dosage to manage pain. There are also some topical pain relievers that can be used, such as burn-free wipes; which have a light dose of numbing medication in them. Always be sure to follow the guidelines provided on the packaging of the pain-relieving medications.
When should I seek the help of a Physician or Practitioner for my burn?
As a general guideline, if the size of the wound is bigger than the palm of your hand it may need a second opinion or further evaluation. If the burn occurs around the eyes, nose, ears, toes, and fingers, regardless of size, it’s recommended that a practitioner evaluate you – as the wound may become problematic. Lastly, if you notice symptoms of the wound becoming infected (i.e. increased pain, fever, streaking redness, etc.) you should see a physician
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.
Chris Reed serves as an editor and reporter for St. George News. He has steadily moved east after growing up among the Valley girls of Southern California’s San Fernando Valley. He graduated from Cal State Northridge before spending a decade in Las Vegas. As a sports reporter and editor, he once compared shoe sizes with Shaq. As a news reporter and editor, he has covered parades, triumphs and tragedies. He also once got close to the stars doing publicity for a space module builder. He came to St. George for love and has grown to love the community. He is the proud father of two boys, his youngest a champion against both autism and Type 1 diabetes.
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