Firefighters cautious, vendors hopeful for 2014 fireworks season


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The beginning of the 2014 fireworks season kicked off this week, with stands around Utah opening up and selling fireworks.

The new season is bringing fresh hope and optimism for stand owners and excitement for families, but also renewed worries for firefighters who are concerned about the lingering fire risk.

Unified Fire Authority Battalion Chief Brian Anderton said Tuesday that people shouldn’t let the green conditions along the Wasatch Front fool them.

“A little bit of heat, a little bit of wind and dry temperatures and even these green fuels are extremely flammable and can cause a lot of problems,” Anderton said.

Cities and counties around the state have enacted area-specific fire restrictions for 2014, but firefighters are urging safe practices where fireworks are legal to light.

Anderton said last year, Unified Fire alone responded to 13 fireworks-related fires.

Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands spokesman Jason Curry said crews had already responded to fires this year sparked by the illegal use of fireworks.

Curry noted even after a rainstorm, it only takes grasses about an hour to dry out to their original state, and he encouraged people to “be smart.”

Fireworks stand owners themselves understand the buck stops with safety.

At the fireworks stand at 90th and State Street, owner Matt Shadle posted fire restriction maps for Sandy City, and he said he explains to buyers how to properly secure larger fireworks by placing bricks next to them.

“We don’t want to have any accidents out there,” Shadle said.


Fourth of July falls on a Friday night. That's big. That's really big.

–Matt Shadle, fireworks vendor


Shadle said he was hoping for a very successful 2014 season in terms of sales, given that the July Fourth holiday falls on a weekend.

“Fourth of July falls on a Friday night,” Shadle said. “That’s big. That’s really big.”

Shadle said the bad wildfire season in 2012 resulted in the worst sales year “since the Vietnam War,” and 2013 proved only to be so-so.

He was hoping the success of favorites like “Honey Badger” and “Bone Yard” would once again propel sales.

Several shoppers Tuesday were seen toting large amounts of fireworks to their cars and packing them in their trunks.

Ryan Delahuerta said he liked this time of year better than Christmas, and was planning to spend $600 to $700 on his fireworks show.

“It’s all about the percussion,” Delahuerta said. “They’re loud, and yeah, they make the hair on the back of your neck stand up a little bit. I like that.”

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