Utah Bans Fireworks Amid Worst Wildfires

Salt Lake City News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jun 26, 2026 · 2m

Utah’s Fourth of July just got a lot more serious as Governor Spencer Cox bans private fireworks statewide to combat the worst wildfire conditions in memory—18 new fires erupted in 24 hours, including the 72,000-acre Cottonwood Fire, now the largest in the nation. With $20 million already spent fighting blazes and 80% of fires sparked by humans, officials are split: some call the statewide ban overreach, while others applaud the governor’s swift action after recent devastation in Hawaii and California. State forester Jamie Barnes insists this isn’t about killing the holiday, but preventing it…