As fireworks start going on sale Sunday, city and fire officials are urging Utahns to take extra precautions during July holidays and to remember new fireworks restrictions.
"We are expecting things to burn," said Eric Holmes, Unified Fire Authority public information officer. "If people aren't being very careful, we're going to burn things to the ground. It could be a very scary situation."
Holmes said fire officials are considering this summer's conditions as a "massive red flag" for fireworks safety because of Utah's weather pattern of high temperatures, dry air and wind.
This July, class C fireworks can only be discharged in Utah July 2-5 and 22-25 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., with hours extended to midnight on Independence Day and Pioneer Day.
The allotted days are shorter than previous years after Utah lawmakers passed a fire restrictions bill, HB38, into law this winter, reducing the number of days fireworks could be discharged in July from 14 days to eight.