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Cottonwood Heights Journal

New fireworks restrictions for Cottonwood Heights this summer

Jun 18, 2018 04:56PM ● By Cassie Goff

New restrictions on fireworks from the state legislature are in effect. Avoid a hefty fine by knowing the restrictions in your area. (Dan Metcalf/Cottonwood Heights)

By Cassie Goff | [email protected]

Before setting off fireworks this year, know the restrictions. Don’t set off fireworks within 200 feet of restricted areas, which are usually parks, schools and wildland areas. Fireworks can only be lit two days before and after July 4 and July 24, as long as it’s not after midnight or before 11 a.m. Setting off a firework within a restricted area or on a non-permissible day may result in a $1,000 fine.

These restrictions differ from prior years because of House Bill (HB) 38. After pressure from many cities concerned about fire potential, the bill was signed during the 2018 legislative session on March 19 and went into effect on May 8.

Generally, the bill restricts the number of days fireworks can be lit, increases the criminal fine, clarifies when a municipality can prohibit the discharge of fireworks and increases areas where cities and municipalities can prohibit fireworks.

In Cottonwood Heights, many residents and city officials have mixed feelings about the passing of this bill. After firework-related fires touched the lives of many residents last year, city officials issued a city-wide ban on aerial fireworks and urged the legislature to put more restrictions on fireworks. Even though HB 38 does not accomplish everything the city council had hoped for, they welcome the necessary changes.

HB 38 required cities to adopt fireworks restricted maps and submit them to Salt Lake County before May 1. On Tuesday, April 24, the Cottonwood Heights City Council passed Resolution 2018-21, designating areas closed to discharge of fireworks due to historical hazardous environmental conditions and adopting a map showing the boundaries of such areas, unanimously.

Geographic Information Systems Specialist Kevin Sato created a Fireworks Restricted Areas map for Cottonwood Heights, which can now be found on the city’s website.

“Residents can easily identify where a boundary is,” Sato said.

A few areas that have become more restrictive within the city are around Crestwood Park at 7485 Siesta Drive, Mountain View Cemetery/Memorial Estates at 3115 Bengal Boulevard, and Mill Hollow Park at 2900 Hollow Mill Drive. Everything East of Wasatch Boulevard is a restricted area, based on the state’s recommendation.

 “Until such areas are developed, they stay on the map for firework restrictions,” said Sato.

Many other cities have passed resolution/ordinances in accordance with H.B. 38, including Sandy, Herriman and Salt Lake City.  

 

For more information, visit the Unified Fire Authority Fireworks restriction page: http://www.unifiedfire.org/stations/fireworks_restrictions_map.asp

Cottonwood Heights Fireworks Restricted Area Map: http://chcity.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=507663da8b7a4f14a1491763d229ff69