CANDIDATES PETER S. COOKE AND VINCE RAMPTON TO HERBERT: THINK SAFETY FIRST, ENACT STATEWIDE BAN ON CONSUMER FIREWORKS

CANDIDATES PETER S. COOKE AND VINCE RAMPTON TO HERBERT: THINK SAFETY FIRST, ENACT STATEWIDE BAN ON CONSUMER FIREWORKS

Salt Lake City, Utah — Today, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Peter S. Cooke and his running mate, lieutenant governor candidate Vince Rampton, called for the office of the governor to invoke emergency powers conferred by the Disaster Response and Recovery Act to impose a statewide ban on consumer fireworks during the current crisis. Cooke stated that such a ban is an integral component of a proper preparedness and prevention plan.

“My heart goes out to all the Utah families affected by the wildfires that are ravaging our state. I commend the firefighters, state troopers, local police and National Guard for their remarkable bravery and courage in the face of these dangers. Their selfless actions and rapid response has saved thousands of lives and homes. They are heroes,” Cooke said.

“Given the tragic loss of life, the property damage wildfires have inflicted thus far, and the threat fireworks pose in this especially dangerous wildfire season, Utah needs to ban consumer fireworks across the state,” Cooke said.

“The State of Utah is in dire need of an emergency preparedness plan that is geared towards preventing, not simply reacting to, wildfires. This is especially true during this unusually dangerous wildfire season. A statewide consumer fireworks ban is an integral part of any such plan, and in fact an adequate preparedness and prevention plan cannot be achieved absent a ban on consumer fireworks,” Cooke said.

“A ban on consumer fireworks would go a long way towards getting Utah safely through the dangers wildfires pose to our state. But there are other steps that need to be taken. As Governor, under the Disaster Response and Recovery Act, UCA § 63K-4-401, I would declare a state of emergency due to the threat of 'natural phenomenon,' which includes the threat of forest or range fires. We also need to call on our volunteer infrastructure to assist our heroes in preventing wildfires. We need to mobilize our Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), block captains, and church and community organizations to educate and alert all citizens, and be ready to move when they are called into action,” Cooke said.

“I also implore all citizens to educate themselves on the dangers of fires, and to take responsible and appropriate measures when engaging in any activity that poses a fire risk. Utahns need to think safety first,” Cooke said.

“If we prepare for these fires together, if we think in terms of prevention, not reaction, by banning consumer fireworks statewide, and if we lend a helping hand to friends, family and neighbors in trouble, we can make it through this wildfire season safely,” Cooke said.

About Peter S. Cooke and Vince Rampton: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Peter S. Cooke is a retired two-star major general in the U.S. Army Reserves, a successful CEO and small business owner, and Utah's former director of economic development. The Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, Vince Rampton is a real estate and general commercial trial attorney at Jones Waldo Holbrook & McDonough, Salt Lake City, and the son of former Utah Governor Calvin L. Rampton.