Tribune editorial: Honor Utah this Pioneer Day. Which means don’t burn it down.
Celebrate responsibly, please.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) A fire crew walks down among the burn scar from the Bonneville Fire above the Salt Lake Valley on Thursday, June 25, 2026.
July 24 is Pioneer Day, marking the arrival of Latter-day Saint pioneers in Utah in 1847. It has become a sort of second Independence Day for the Beehive State, complete with lots of loud and bright fireworks.
This year, with dry lands, empty rivers and high winds, shooting off fireworks is really not a good way to celebrate Utah’s industrious heritage. Some municipalities will ban fireworks in certain areas. Some won’t.
Either way, it is a time to honor Utah, not burn it down.
Editorials represent the opinions of The Salt Lake Tribune editorial board, which operates independently from the newsroom.
sltrib.com is now free to access — no subscription required. We made this decision because we believe access to trustworthy, independent news shouldn’t depend on what you can afford — especially as misinformation and AI-generated content continue to rise.
Free to read doesn’t mean free to produce. Our reporters show up every day to ask hard questions and hold powerful institutions to account. That work takes resources. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on support from people who believe it matters. Make a donation today to fund local news that serves Utah communities.
You can help us bring more local news to more communities today.