As wildfires continue to tear through the Western United States, officials across the country are cracking down on personal fireworks just as Americans prepare for one of the most anticipated Fourth of July celebrations in recent memory.
Utah has gone as far as issuing a statewide ban on personal fireworks, citing the extreme danger of wildfire. Governors in Colorado and New Mexico have called on residents to show restraint this holiday, while cities and counties stretching from the Southwest all the way to Oregon and Washington have put their own restrictions in place.
The bottom line from officials: Skip the backyard show and head to a professional fireworks display instead.
This year’s Fourth of July carries extra weight — it marks the nation’s 250th anniversary. Major celebrations are still planned from Mount Rushmore to Washington D.C. and thousands of communities across the country, with spectacular professional displays on the schedule.
Just in the past week, hundreds of wildfires broke out across the West, pushing the already above-average total of acreage burned even higher. Dry, windy conditions are helping the flames spread rapidly. The Southwest was hit especially hard after an unusually dry winter and poor snowpack, but drought conditions are also affecting much of the East Coast and parts of the South, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Experts say nearly 85% of wildfires are started by people — sometimes on purpose, sometimes by accident, such as when power lines malfunction or campfires are left burning unattended. Lightning is the most common natural cause, though unusual culprits like animals chewing on exposed electrical wires can also spark fires.
A wildfire needs three things: flammable vegetation, the right weather conditions, and something to ignite it. Fireworks provide exactly that ignition source, which is why fire incidents surge every year on the Fourth of July, according to Philip Higuera, a fire ecology professor at the University of Montana.
“It’s not because the Fourth of July is particularly always warm and dry and windy,” Higuera said. “It’s because there are a lot of ignitions added to the landscape on that single day.”
So far, only Utah has enacted a statewide restriction, with Gov. Spencer Cox declaring an emergency due to the wildfire threat. In many other states, the decision is being left up to local governments. Some communities are moving forward with public fireworks events, while others have banned them entirely. Certain counties in Florida have also put burn bans in place.
While fireworks restrictions aren’t new, some areas are imposing them for the very first time this year.
Frank Wirth, the fire chief in Alamosa, Colorado, made the difficult decision to cancel his town’s annual fireworks show because of expected dry conditions. The city of nearly 10,000 residents is surrounded by brush and grass, and the event typically draws several hundred attendees each year.
“I think they’re disappointed, and I’m disappointed, too,” Wirth said, but added that “fireworks are a cause of fires, there’s no two ways about it.”
The fireworks industry brought in $2.3 billion last year, and that number could jump to $3 billion this year thanks to America 250 celebrations, according to Julie Heckman, executive director of the American Pyrotechnics Association.
Heckman encouraged consumers to purchase fireworks from a reputable, licensed retailer — whether that’s a large store or a nonprofit — and to carefully follow all instructions to reduce the risk of injury.
She also recommended keeping a bucket of water nearby after using fireworks to soak the spent materials before throwing them away. Even without a visible flame, combustion can still be occurring inside used fireworks.
Wildland fire expert Joe Ten Eyck of the International Association of Fire Fighters urged people to pay attention to local authorities and respect any restrictions in their area.
“The conditions dictate the tactics,” Ten Eyck said. “And so that could put a damper on some people’s celebrating and they may have to celebrate in a different way.”
Starting a wildfire — whether intentionally or by accident — is a punishable offense across the country, though the penalties differ depending on where it happens.
Ultimately, experts agree the safest choice is to skip personal fireworks altogether and enjoy a professional show, where fire crews are typically on standby. Some events are even replacing traditional pyrotechnics with drone light shows, cutting fire risk even further.
