New laws lead to more explosive fourth of July

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This year’s Fourth of July Celebration will also celebrate Utah’s new legislation legalizing aerial repeater fireworks. Instead of fireworks launching only 15 feet in the air, aerial repeater fireworks will launch multiple fireworks up to 150 feet.

In the past, residents of Utah could buy fireworks on June 19 but couldn’t ignite them until July 1. Utah’s new law delays firework sales a week but allows residents to buy and ignite fireworks from June 26 to July 26.

Don’t expect to find firecrackers or Roman candles on the list of legalized fireworks, however, they are still illegal and still dangerous.

In the June 2011 Provo City newsletter, citizens are warned not to ignite any legal or illegal fireworks in restricted areas. Due to dry hazardous conditions, Provo City is restricting fireworks near the base of the mountains. A map with the restricted areas can be viewed on Provo City’s website at provo.org. Provo also recommends igniting fireworks at least 20 feet from combustible weeds, grasses, trees, shrubs or structures. Six Provo city parks have been designated as public areas to ignite legal fireworks.

The biggest concern for Provo City Fire Marshal Lynn Schofield is the added danger of these new legalized fireworks.

“People are used to using the old fireworks and aren’t used to these new ones,” Schofield said. “These fireworks go 10 times higher and are more harmful, especially with a population that is relatively inexperienced with them.”

Schofield also warned residents to take extra precautions when handling the new fireworks.

“Read the labels, look for overhead obstructions and stand at least 30 feet away for them,” he said.

Rob Naylor,24, a civil engineering major from Overland Park, Kan., is one BYU student who is excited with the new legislative.

“The bigger the better,” Naylor said. “I like loud booms.”

Utah State Rep. Jim Dunnigan, R-Taylorsville, is behind the new legislation. About a year ago, Dunnigan was returning from a camping trip in the Uintas and while he was crossing the border he noticed several Utah Highway Patrol vehicles waiting just across the Wyoming border. He later found out the Highway Patrol was conducting a sting operation. An undercover police officer identified Utah vehicles and radioed the plates back across the border. When the Utah residents returned from Wyoming with their illegal fireworks, the Highway Patrol pulled them over and confiscated the illegal fireworks.

After meeting with state fire officials and fireworks experts, Dunnigan was able to approach the new law scientifically with residents of Utah in mind. They found that repeating aerials would not add to the fire hazard because of the factory manufacturers’ specifications that the new legalized fireworks will burn out completely before landing.

“I hope that Utahns will feel less of a need to travel to Wyoming to get more exciting fireworks,” Dunnigan said. “Now Utahns will be able to stay in Utah and spend their money here instead of Wyoming.”

Retail stores in Utah have already ordered $2.5 million worth of these new fireworks. It is projected that the revenue collected by these new fireworks will bring Utah around $125,000 in tax dollars.

“Fireworks are a big part in our Fourth of July Celebration,” Schofield said. “We depend a lot on the citizenry to be prudent when handling fireworks.”

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