It will not be a blast for someone caught using fireworks inside Park City this year. The Park City Police Department early in the week was preparing for Independence Day on Saturday and outlined the prohibition of personal fireworks. Park City leaders in the spring prohibited people from usi ng ignition sources like fireworks and open flames through Oct. 31. Gov. Spencer Cox subsequently banned fireworks throughout Utah in a measure running through July 5. In a prepared response to a Park Record inquiry, Police Department Lt. Danielle Snelson on Tuesday said the agency is poised to write tickets rather than issue warnings for fireworks cases. “Our focus will be on educating the public and responding to complaints as they are received. When officers encounter illegal fireworks use, they will evaluate the circumstances and take the appropriate enforcement action, which will most likely result in a citation,” she said. As of Tuesday morning, Snelson said the Police Department had not received reports related to fireworks. Cases, though, typically increase closer to the holiday and then spike on July 4 itself. The lieutenant outlined that someone could be charged with a class B misdemeanor in fireworks cases, punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and up to six months in jail upon conviction. “Let’s protect our homes, businesses, and beautiful wildlife habitat. Leave the fireworks to the professionals and celebrate safely,” she said. The Park City Council enacted the prohibition in the spring. The decision was made more than a month earlier than similar measures were enacted in the previous five years. There was concern about the wildfire danger after a winter of meager snowfall. There has long been worries in the Park City area about the risk of wildfires. A devastating blaze could threaten the ski industry in addition to the potential loss of lives and property, the concern goes. The previous fireworks prohibitions in Park City have had mixed impacts. There was a series of reports to the Police Department in 2025 despite the ban. The cases in 2025 included Roman candles and other reports involving unspecified sorts of fireworks. The reports included locations across Old Town and in other areas of the community. The governor’s restrictions came after one of the state’s most severe fire seasons, where around 95% of Utah is in a severe or extreme drought. Firefighters have responded to 400 wildfires statewide that have burned more than 290,000 acres so far this year, according to the Utah Division of Natural Resources. More than 70% have been human caused. “Gov. Cox’s statewide fireworks restrictions reflect just how serious wildfire conditions have become across Utah,” said Park City Fire Marshal Cherie Wellmon. “Our neighborhoods sit right up against open space and forest. Protecting this community is a shared responsibility. We are asking everyone to respect the fireworks restrictions and celebrate safely. One careless spark can change our community for years. By making smart choices, we protect our first responders, preserve the landscapes we love, and keep Park City safe through the holiday weekend.”  The National Interagency Fire Center wildfire outlook for July puts all of Utah into the above normal rating. The August outlook includes Park City and surrounding Summit County in the  above normal rating, alongside a swath of northern Utah. Park City is one of the popular locations in the state to mark the 4th of July. The community typically is jammed on the holiday for a parade and other festivities capped by a drone show rather than fireworks. Independence Day this year falls during a three-day weekend for many, meaning there is the possibility of an especially busy period as the nation marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Summit County fire danger increased to extreme on June 24. Stage 2 fire restrictions are in place for all state land and unincorporated areas. Text SCFIRE to 91896 for updates on fire conditions.  The public can report illegal fireworks by calling the Police Department’s non emergency dispatch line at 435-615-5500. Call 911 for emergencies. More information about the prohibition is available on the municipal government’s website, parkcity.gov. The direct link is: parkcity.gov/?rz=newsDetailsid=196. The post Park City police prepare for July 4, saying fireworks cases will most likely result in citations appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less