- Fireworks restrictions in Utah threaten financial losses for local businesses.
- Matt MacPherson of PyroCrate Fireworks expects reduced profits despite high expectations.
- Gov. Spencer Cox's order bans fireworks outside professional shows through July 5.
SALT LAKE CITY — A new statewide restriction on fireworks could leave some local stand owners facing significant financial losses during what was expected to be one of their busiest seasons.
Matt MacPherson, a Salt Lake County representative and owner of PyroCrate Fireworks, said he expected sales for America's 250th Anniversary Celebration to bring in high revenue.
"We would probably see at least a 50% increase from last year to this year," MacPherson said.
Instead, the new statewide restriction announced Thursday leaves MacPherson hoping he'll break even for the season.
Others might not be so lucky.
"They may find themselves totally bankrupt at the end of this season because of an executive order that, first of all, might not even be legal," MacPherson said.
The executive order Gov. Spencer Cox issued across the state restricts all fireworks outside of professional shows and bans open fires through July 5.
MacPherson worries the restrictions could encourage people to use fireworks in more dangerous locations to avoid scrutiny from their neighbors. He also wonders how cities will have the resources to enforce the ban.
"We're going to have a huge enforcement problem on top of this ban," MacPherson said. "People may go out into the outskirts of town or in the hills or something and try to shoot fireworks there, and that's the worst place you could shoot them, especially right now."
Fireworks, MacPherson said, are rarely responsible for wildfires. Of the more than 350 fires currently burning in the Beehive State, MacPherson said he's unaware of any that were caused by fireworks.
"There's no effort to ban chains on highways or target practice out in the woods," MacPherson said.
MacPherson said he and several other legislators plan to send an open letter to cities encouraging them to use their local authority to maintain the fireworks restriction maps they have already adopted.
