How To Keep Your Utah Home Safe From Fires

Fire Safety Tips For Utah Homeowners

Utah is experiencing an extremely hot summer. In fact, according to the National Weather Service, Utah has recorded record-breaking temperatures—some of the highest seen since 2002 and 1960.

In addition to high temperatures, Utah celebrates the 4th of July and Pioneer Day each summer with firecrackers and barbeques. Hot temperatures, dry vegetation, and fireworks all put your house at risk for fire.

This last month has seen catastrophic apartment fires, some caused by arson and others by human error.

At Your Utah Realty, we wanted to help out by giving everyone a few tips on fire safety and how to keep your Utah home safe from fires.

Practice Firework Safety

The flash, lights, and bangs of fireworks are a blast to watch, literally! However, when a firework goes astray, the consequences can be devastating.

Because Utah is experiencing a huge drought this year, city officials have restricted fireworks in most cities.

Here is a comprehensive list of firework restrictions from Utah’s fire marshal:

• • Alpine – Alpine City Website and 2021 Firework Restrictions
  • American Fork –  2021 Fireworks Restrictions and  2021 Map
  • Apple Valley – No fireworks allowed in city limits.
  • Blanding – 2020 No firework restrictions inside the city limits.
  • Bluffdale –  2021 Fireworks Resolution
  • Bountiful –  2021 Firework Restrictions Map
  • Box Elder – 2017 State Fire Restriction Order Box Elder County
  • Brian Head -2021 Info
  • Brigham City  – Fireworks Restrictions and 2021 Fireworks Map and 2021 Boundary Description for Fireworks
  • Bryce Canyon City –  2021 Fire Restriction Order
  • Cache County – 2021 Firework Restrictions and Map
  • Cedar Hills – Fireworks Restrictions
  • Cedar Mountain Fire Pro. Dist. – 2020 FFSL Beaver Kane Garfield Iron County Restrictions and 2020 Color Country Fire Restrictions – Map and 2020 Interagency News Release
  • Cedar Valley – 2020 Fireworks Restrictions
  • Centerfield – As of June 30 2020 Centerfield does not have any restrictions on fireworks above what the state of Utah policy and guidelines are.
  • Centerville –  2021 Firework Restrictions Map
  • Charlston – 2020 Fireworks Restrictions (Any area not labeled as designated is prohibited.)
  • Clinton – 2021 No fireworks restrictions.
  • Coalville – 2021 Fire Restrictions
  • Cottonwood Heights – Fireworks Information and Map
  • Crescent Junction – No fireworks allowed.  This is unincorporated private, State or BLM lands.
  • Daggett County Fire & Fireworks – Resolution
  • Diamond Valley – All Fireworks Banned.
  • Draper – 2021 Fireworks Restricted Area Map  and  Fireworks Restrictions and Ordinance 
  • Eagle Mountain – Resolution
  • Elk Ridge – For 2021 fireworks are banned for the entire city due to the red flag warnings and extremely dry conditions.
  • Emery County – 2018 Firework Plan
  • Enoch – Ordinance
  • Enterprise – 2020 No fireworks restrictions inside city limits.
  • Farmington – Fireworks Restriction Line 2021  and  Firework Ordinance / Safety Tri-Fold 2021
  • Fayette – As of June 30 2020 Fayette does not have any restrictions on fireworks above what the state of Utah policy and guidelines are.
  • Fruit Heights – 2021 Firework Restrictions Map
  • Genola – 2020 No fireworks restrictions.
  • Grand County – 2020 Fire Restriction Order  and  2020 Intra-agency Restriction Press Release
  • Gunnison – As of June 30 2020 Gunnison does not have any restrictions on fireworks above what the state of Utah policy and guidelines are.
  • Heber – Daniel –  2021 Fireworks Restrictions
  • Henefer – The Council has banned all fireworks, and open fires within city limits. A resolution was passed on June 28, for as long as the fire danger is high.
  • Highland –  Restrictions June 2019  and Highland 2020 Firework Restrictions Map and City Website Fireworks Information
  • Holladay – Ordinance
  • Iron County – Fireworks Restrictions 2019 and Fireworks Restrictions Map
  • Ivins –  2021 Fireworks Restrictions and 2021 Firework Zone Map
  • Junction – Junction 2020 Fireworks Restrictions
  • Kanab – 2021 Fireworks Ordinance and 2021 Fireworks Exclusion Map or 2021 Detailed Fireworks Exclusion Map
  • Layton –  Layton City Firework Restrictions  and  Layton City Interactive Map  or   Basic Map  and  Sky Lantern Prohibition.
  • Lehi – Fireworks are prohibited north of State Route 92 and along the Dry Creek corridor from 1200 East to Center Street.
  • Lindon – 2018 Restrictions 2014-4-R and 2018 Map – City Wide and 2018 Map – Foothills
  • Lyndyl  – 2020 No fireworks restrictions.
  • Mapleton – Firework Zones Map
  • Mayfield – As of June 30 2020 Mayfield does not have any restrictions on fireworks above what the state of Utah policy and guidelines are.
  • Midway – 2020 Fireworks Restricted Area Map (Any area not labeled as designated is prohibited.)
  • Moab  –2021 Restrictions
  • Mona – 2020 following State guidelines.
  • Monticello  –   2021 All fireworks are banned in the city limits.
  • Morgan –  2021 Fire Restrictions
  • Murray –  2021 Map
  • Myton – Resolution
  • North Salt Lake –  2021 Firework Restrictions Map
  • North View – See Weber Fire District
  • Ogden –  Restrictions 2021 and Fire Restrictions Map 2021
  • Orem – 2021 map and info
  • Park City – 2021 information and current restrictions
  • Payson – 2021 Fire Restrictions and 2021 Fireworks Restricted Areas Overall Map or 2021 Fireworks Restricted Areas – West Side  or  2021 Fireworks Restricted Areas East Side
  • Pleasant Grove – Resolution
  • Plymouth – 2020 All Fireworks Banned. City Ordinance
  • Provo – 2021 Fireworks Restriction Zone – In addition to these restrictions, fireworks are not allowed anywhere on the BYU Campus.
  • Rich County – Rich County and ALL of the incorporated towns within Rich county have passed a complete & TOTAL fire & fireworks prohibited resolution. We ask for support in prohibiting fires & fireworks on state lands within Rich County until further notice.   2017 State Fire Restriction Order Rich County
  • Richfield – 2020 no fireworks restrictions.
  • Riverdale –  2021 website for fireworks information – Link
  • Riverton – 2021 Fire restrictions info: https://www.rivertonutah.gov/alert_detail.php
  • Roy –  Fireworks Restrictions Map 2021 and Fireworks Restrictions Ordinance 2021
  • Salem – Ordinance
  • Salina – Ordinance
  • Salt Lake City  –  2021 Fire Restrictions and Map
  • Sandy – 2021 Fireworks information  and  2021 Map  and  Interactive map
  • San Juan County – 2020 Fire Restriction Order  and  2020 Intra-agency Restriction Press Release
  • Santa Clara – 2020 Fireworks Restrictions Map
  • Santaquin – Ordinance and Restrictions Map for 2018
  • Saratoga Springs – Link to 2021 fireworks information and map  and  2021 Fireworks Restrictions  and  Map
  • Scipio – 2020 Fireworks are Prohibited
  • South Jordan – 2021 Resolution and Restriction Map Zones
  • South Salt Lake – See website for 2021 restrictions – Link
  • South Ogden –  2021 Restrictions
  • South Weber – 2021 note on all restrictions
  • Spanish Fork – 2021 map and restrictions
  • Springville – Restrictions and Fireworks Restrictions Map 07-23-20
  • St. George – 2021 Firework Restrictions Map and Interactive Map and 2021 Firework Ordinance and Fireworks Information
  • Stockon – 2021 Fire Restrictions and  2021 Firework Ban
  • Taylorsville – Ordinance
  • Thompson Springs – No fireworks allowed.  This is unincorporated private, State, or BLM lands.
  • Tooele County – 2021 Fireworks Restrictions and 2021 Interactive Map
  • Tremonton – 2021 Fire Restrictions Ordinance and Map
  • Tropic –  2021 Fire Restrictions
  • Unified Fire Authority – Fireworks Information and Restrictions  and Interactive Map and  Map
  • Uintah City  –  2020 Fireworks Restrictions Map  and  2020 Fire Restriction Order
  • Vernal – Ordinance
  • Wallsburg – 2020 Fireworks Restrictions (Any area not labeled as designated is prohibited.)
  • Wasatch Fire District –  2021 Full Fire Restrictions
  • Washington City – 2021 Fireworks Restrictions Interactive Map  and 2021 Map
  • Washington County – Washington County Fireworks Restrictions and Maps
  • Washington Terrace – Restriction Zone
  • Weber Fire District – Fireworks Restrictions as of July 2020 and  Fire Restriction Order as of July 2020
  • Wellington –  2021 Banning all aerial fireworks.
  • West Bountiful – 2021 no firework restriction zones.
  • West Jordan – 2021 Map and info
  • West Valley – Fireworks Restrictions and Map
  • Woodland Hills – 2021 No Fireworks Allowed.
  • Woods Cross – 2021 no firework restriction zones.

If you’d like to watch a firework display, there are multiple public events that will be held this year.

Check Your Smoke Detectors

Utah homeowners should check their smoke detectors monthly, replace the batteries once or twice a year, and replace the entire detector once every ten years.

To check your smoke detector, press and hold the test button. In a few seconds, you should hear an ear-splitting siren. If you don’t, your batteries may be dead and should be changed.

Did You Know

Did you know? According to the Unified Fire Authority, working smoke alarms reduce the chances of dying in a fire by nearly 50%. They are your first line of defense for any house fire.

Here’s a great tip – make it a habit to change out those batteries on Daylight Savings Days, when you spring forward or fall back.

Maintain Your HVAC and Electrical Systems

and Your Chimney

Many home fires begin with poorly maintained furnaces or objects that have been placed too close to these heat sources. Make sure your furnace is inspected and your ducts cleaned once a year. Having your HVAC system on a regular maintenance schedule will not only help to prevent fires, but will make your systems run more efficiently and last longer.

Check electrical outlets and cords for fraying or exposed wires. Don’t overload outlets or extension cords.

Finally, make sure that any fuel-burning equipment or fireplaces are properly vented and cleaned out. Creosote buildup in fireplaces and chimneys are sometimes the culprit of home fires.

All flammable materials should be at least three feet from any heat source.

Cooking Supervision

Never leave cooking foods unattended. If you are leaving the room, turn off any heat sources. Don’t leave the home while roasting or baking anything, and this includes crockpots.

Did You Know?

The Unified Fire Authority says that in Utah, most fires occur while cooking and these fires cause the most fire-related injuries.

When cooking, make sure you’re not wearing loose clothing, and have a fire extinguisher on hand to control any sudden fires that may erupt. A fire can double in size in just seconds.

Teach Kids About Fire Safety

Keep matches and lighters away from children and teach them to immediately hand any found materials to an adult.

Each family should have a fire safety plan and practice it before a fire starts. If a fire does erupt, make sure your kids know how to evacuate your home and make sure each room has at least two exits (a door and a window).

Establish a meeting spot outside of the home if disaster strikes, and designate a “safe” person in your neighborhood where your children can go to if you are incapacitated.

Finally, teach children how to properly use and call 911 when appropriate.

Have Your Utah Home Inspected

When Buying A Home

Before you purchase a home in Utah, have your home inspected for any issues that may increase your risk of a house fire. Your home inspector should check your furnace, electrical wiring, and ducts for problems.

Need a referral to a HVAC technician or home inspector? Our SLC real estate agents are your resource to all things related to real estate. Give us a call today at (801) 893-8880.