STOCKTON, Utah — Twenty-six new fires started this weekend around the state and kept fire crews busy. Officials said that all but three of those blazes were started by humans, which led Utah Gov. Spencer Cox to urge all Utahns to practice better fire safety.

“This weekend we saw fires that were threatening homes,” Cox said. “Neighborhoods were evacuated and ashes fell from the sky.”

Practice fire safety or you will be responsible

Standing near the Jacob City Fire in Tooele County on Monday, Cox issued a stern warning to all residents.

“Let me reiterate, you will be held responsible if you start a fire,” he said.

Current Utah fire conditions: Utah Firewatch

The governor’s comments came on the heels of fires that also sparked over the weekend in Cache and Millard counties. 

He’s also urging people who are around fires to use caution.

“You don’t want that to happen, OK?” Cox said. “You don’t want to burn down your neighborhood, burn down other people’s homes, be responsible for those things. So, please, please, please be careful.”

On social media Monday, Cox said there are at least five active fires in Utah, that have burned more than 13,000 acres of land in three days.

🧵/ As of now, there are at least five active fires in Utah.

Those fires have burned more than 13,000 acres of land over three days. All but three of the 25 fires that burned over the weekend were human-caused — meaning most were preventable. pic.twitter.com/keyA97W3WF

— Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox (@GovCox) July 11, 2022

Leave it to the professionals

As one more way to play it safe, Cox recommends leaving the fireworks to the professionals during the upcoming Pioneer Day holiday.

“I’m sure our ancestors will be very pleased with the professional firework shows,” he said. “And not the one in your yard, starting other people’s houses on fire.”

Over the weekend, Cox went to social media to thank the fire personnel who are battling the fires.

Today I’m grateful for firefighters that are willing to brave this 100+ degree heat to protect our communities. Sadly too many fires are human-caused. PLEASE take extra precautions this week and remember to thank our firefighters.

— Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) July 10, 2022

 

Mark Jones contributed to this article.