County Commission Bans Fireworks

The Sandoval County Commission has banned the sale and use of fireworks in unincorporated areas of the county.

The commission issued the ban on a unanimous vote at its regular meeting on June 6, 2013, at the request of Fire Chief James Maxon.

Chief Maxon, who took a break from battling the Thompson Ridge Wildfire in the Jemez area to attend the meeting, told the commission that persistent drought conditions caused him to request the fireworks ban.

The commission’s order bans the sale and use of missile-type rockets, helicopters, aerial spinners, stick-type rockets and all exploding devices that can be heard while standing on the ground within the unincorporated areas of Sandoval County.

It also limits the use of sparkling and smoke-type fireworks—whether they burn on the ground or are held in a person’s hand—to areas that are paved or barren or that have a readily accessible source of water for use by the homeowner or general public.

The use all fireworks is banned in the wild lands of unincorporated area of Sandoval County.
The ban took effect on Monday, June 10, 2013 and will remain in effect until Wednesday, July 10, 2013. The chief can ask the commission to issue another 30-day ban, if fire danger persists.