BOX ELDER COUNTY - By Ellen Cook, Headliner Media Specialist - July 1, 2021
With the 4th of July celebration just days away, Box Elder County Fire Marshal Corey Barton is urging residents to be careful, be cautious and be concerned.
“This is the driest year I’ve seen,” he said. “It’s a tinderbox out there.”
Because of the dry conditions, the State Fire Restrictions mandate no fires in any of the unincorporated areas of the county. Those areas include Riverside, Beaver Dam, Collinston, Thatcher-Penrose, Bothwell on the north and South Willard on the south.
“That means those areas are closed to campfires, fireworks, everything,” he noted, adding that those lighting fires or fireworks in a banned area will be charged with a Class B Misdemeanor and fined, with possible jail time added.
The county is currently in Stage One Fire, which means those who have approved firepits at their residences can still have a personal fire. That may change, however, as discussions about going to Stage Two are underway. Those found responsible for fires in all areas of the county will be liable for all costs incurred with fighting the fire and any damage caused, Barton continued. “It’s just not worth it.”
To demonstrate the extreme dry conditions, firefighters were called to two fires on June 2. A two-acre blaze was reported at mile marker 13 on Interstate 84 and a second fire near Lynn, called the Birch Creek fire, crossed the state line into Utah from the Idaho/Nevada area. Crews were also called to a report of smoke and another possible fire near Goose Creek.
“The conditions are ripe all over out west,” Barton said. “Please just don’t do fires or fireworks. It is just not a good year for it.”
Garland City, Tremonton City, Brigham City and Perry City have also restricted fireworks in areas within city limits.