This year, nearly 80% of the wildfires across Utah have been caused by people. Not lightning. Not nature. People. Or rather, mistakes made by regular people.

That number is striking — but what strikes me equally is what’s behind it. Almost none of those fires were set on purpose. No one loads up the car for a camping trip hoping something goes wrong. No one lights a bottle rocket planning to burn down a hillside. These are accidents, and they can happen to any of us when conditions are right and precautions slip. That is what makes this moment both serious and deeply personal — because preventing the next fire is genuinely up to us.

Last week, I watched the Bonneville Fire tear through the foothills above our valley. The burn scar stopped less than 100 feet from the back door of the Huntsman Cancer Institute. That is too close, and it underscores the debt we owe the firefighters and first responders who valiantly held that line.

That image stays with me as we approach the Fourth of July and the America250 celebrations. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness — those words still carry real weight. The people of this valley deserve to celebrate them fully. But they also deserve to pursue happiness without losing everything to a wildfire caused by carelessness.

Gov. Spencer Cox declared a statewide fireworks ban, and I want to be direct about why that matters. This is not government overreach. It is common sense in a crisis. We currently have multiple active fires across Utah burning more than 150,000 acres. As the governor said plainly — this is life or death. The National Weather Service has already issued multiple Red Flag Warnings covering Salt Lake County and its first ever “Particularly Dangerous Situation” — conditions marked by heat, low humidity and wind that can transform a spark into a hundred-acre-plus fire within hours.

Simply put, these are extraordinary times that require extraordinary effort.

Our fire, search-and-rescue, and emergency management teams are already at their limits — that is not a figure of speech. These fires move so fast and burn incredibly hot. Crews cannot extinguish one fire and immediately race to the next. There are very real limits to our capacity. Every resource is committed, and the season is far from over. The least we can do is not add to the burden of these brave men and women.

So, as the holiday approaches, I urge you to stay vigilant. If you see fireworks being used in violation of the ban, please report it. Salt Lake City and Sandy residents can call 801-799-3000. For most other Salt Lake County areas, call 801-840-4000. The first violation carries a $1,000 fine, and this year, enforcement is serious — the government will pursue criminal prosecution and hold offenders liable for suppression cost. Residents are already calling it in. This is not the year to test your luck.

With all of that said, this Fourth of July should absolutely be a celebration. Two hundred and fifty years is a moment worth marking in a meaningful way, and there are great options all across this valley. Professional shows and drone displays are spectacular and safe. And there may be no better way to spend this particular Fourth than at a county pool or a city splash pad with your family, marking America’s birthday with water instead of fire. We will look back on this summer as the year we started new traditions, celebrated in new ways and sacrificed just a little for our neighbors and communities.

The Founders understood that protecting what they had built was not separate from celebrating it — it was part of the same commitment. We can carry that same spirit into this summer’s celebrations, too.

Have a wonderful Fourth of July, Salt Lake County.

Jenny Wilson is the Mayor of Salt Lake County.

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