Utah institutes new fireworks law

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By Jane Quansah

Excited about the use of aerial fireworks, two brothers purchased fireworks from a vendor. After waiting until about 11 p.m., they lighted the fireworks and watched them light up in the sky. The last firework was lighted but accidentally shot horizontally, landing right in front of a neighbor’s front door.

The use of fireworks is associated with some dangers. Because of these dangers, the Utah fire marshal has instituted firework laws to protect the safety of people who want to have fun with fireworks.

“First three days of becoming a vendor, the fireworks did not sell as much,” said Brian McEwen, a fireworks salesperson. “After people learned about the new fireworks laws and how much fun they could have, they started coming in to buy them.”

Utahns wanting to buy aerial fireworks are now free to do so, on condition they accept safety information from salespeople.

“We don’t sell fireworks to persons under 16,” said McEwen. “They have to be accompanied by an adult or be 16 or older.”

McEwen expressed concern about the fact that not many people knew about the safety regulations. He concluded that the main issue was educating people about safety rules in order to make the holiday season more enjoyable.

According to the fire marshal website, people can purchase and use lawful fireworks from June 26 to July 26.

Some Utah residents shared their experience with fireworks.

“My family always does fireworks on the Fourth of July down in St. George after the city firework show and the new law has helped us have a more fun time this year because we were able to use aerial fireworks that shot pretty high up into the air,” said Alex Seegmiller, a recent BYU graduate. “Aerial fireworks are a lot more fun to watch than the ones that just shoot off sparks on the ground, so I like the new law.”

Fireworks need space from trees, carports, structures and other obstacles. Aerial or “cake” fireworks need at least a 30 foot bubble of clearance around on the ground and above in the air. Some need as much as 150 feet clearance in the air.

Seegmiller expressed concern about how dangerous fireworks may be in a dry place where they could catch fire easily, or if someone accidentally (or purposefully) shoots them horizontally instead of vertically and it hit someone.

Other people enjoy watching fireworks rather than shooting them.

“I’m glad that people can now do aerial fireworks,” said student Andrew Sitati. “I love seeing them in the sky.”

 

 

 

 

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