Salt Lake County’s Unified Fire Authority is planning on a busy 4th of July weekend. The hot, dry weather combined with fireworks celebrations, makes parks and open fields prime areas for fires.
“But actually for this weekend we have 3 extra wildland engines which equal 16 extra firefighters just on duty to assist with any wildland fire, any grass fires that possibly just pop up.”
Chris Atkin is a spokesman and a paramedic with Unified Fire. He says, despite the high fire danger, it’s still possible to be safe and have a great holiday weekend.
“Make sure you have enough water, make sure you have your sunscreen on. Be safe when you’re around the pools. Watch the kids, make sure they’re doing okay swimming,” says Atkin. “And with fireworks make sure, if you’re going to do them at home, you have a hose and a bucket of water, that you’re being safe when you light them, that you’re doing them based off of the manufacturer’s instructions.”
Atkin says learning where fireworks are banned is easy using UFA’s interactive map at UnifiedFire.org and clicking on Firework Restrictions.
