- Gov. Spencer Cox announced a statewide fireworks ban due to historic wildfire conditions.
- Utah wildfires have burned over 100,000 acres, with human causes prevalent.
- Officials urge attending professional shows over personal fireworks to prevent fires.
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Gov. Spencer Cox announced temporary statewide fireworks restrictions following a week of wildfires burning more than 100,000 acres across the state.
The governor on Wednesday issued an executive order banning the use of fireworks throughout Utah, but allows cities to designate legal areas of their choosing.
"When people who have dedicated their lives to protecting Utah tell us this year is different, we desperately need to listen," Cox said.
Utah State Forester and director of the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, Jamie Barnes, encouraged Utahns to avoid launching their own fireworks and instead, travel to professional shows hosted at various parks across the state on national and state holidays.
"We are concerned with where we are, and if we don't see a change, we are going to be headed in the wrong direction," Barnes said.
Multiple cities and municipalities have preemptively banned fireworks outside of previously established shows to prevent sparks from starting additional fires.
Wildfires across Utah have already burned more than 141,000 acres this year. Only 13,300 acres had burned on June 17.
Approximately three-quarters of the state's 2026 fires were originally caused by humans, according to Kayli Guild, fire prevention and communications coordinator for the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands.
The most notable fires to date took place over the course of the last three days, including the Cottonwood Fire near Beaver, the Iron Fire near Eureka and the Hastings Fire near Tooele.
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