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After officials urged Utahns to forgo personal fireworks this year, the Salt Lake City Fire Department reported zero fireworks-related fires in the area. Two wildfires started previously were also extinguished over the holiday weekend.
According to a tweet from the department, there were 31 fireworks ban enforcement calls and 24 warnings issued. There were seven fires not caused by fireworks, however, with three structure fires, a fire in a detached garage, a fire in a commercial structure, a fire in a vacant structure, and one grass fire.
Gov. Spencer Cox’s office told FOX 13 reporter Ben Winslow in a statement that he was hoping the trend continues.
“We’re so grateful that many Utahns chose to forgo personal fireworks this weekend,” Cox wrote. “We hope that continues through the July 24 holiday.”
On July 3 and 4, two wildfires were extinguished. The Mile Marker 25 (AZ) I-15 Fire, near the edge of the Utah and Arizona border near Interstate 15, burned 1,007 acres until it was put out July 3. The Snake John Fire in Uintah County near the Colorado border burned 650 acres before being extinguished July 4.
The Pack Creek Fire was listed as 100% contained on June 30, according to a release from Utah Fire Info. All remaining private property evacuation orders were lifted Tuesday, although the forest closure for parts of the western slope of the La Sal Mountains is still in effect. The fire was caused by an abandoned campfire and burned 8,952 acres total. Firefighters are still monitoring the area as small fires — which are unlikely to spread — continue to burn light fuels in the forest.
Four other wildfires remain active in the state. The Monk Springs Fire started July 2 after being ignited by lightning in Millard County near Kanosh, and is currently 80% contained after burning 170 acres. The Morgan Canyon Fire ignited on June 18 after a small plane crash and is at 55% containment after burning 509 acres.
The lightning-caused Bear Fire in Carbon County has been burning since June 8 and is 93% contained after burning 12,174 acres. The naturally caused Bennion Creek Fire started June 4 in Utah County and is at 94% containment after burning 8,313 acres.
— The Salt Lake Tribune and FOX 13 have a content-sharing partnership.
