News and Articles

06/26/2018

Santa Fe County Firework Ban

A RESOLUTION AND PROCLAMATION DECLARING EXTREME OR
SEVERE DROUGHT CONDITIONS WITHIN SANTA FE COUNTY AND
BANNING THE SALE AND USE OF CERTAIN FIREWORKS IN THE
UNINCORPORATED PORTIONS OF THE COUNTY, INCLUDING
WILDLANDS, AND LIMITING THE USE OF CERTAIN FIREWORKS TO
SPECIFIC AREAS
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHEREAS, an immediate and present danger of range fires, brush fires, grass
fires, forest fires and structure fires exists within Santa Fe County (the County) due to
persistent drought; and

WHEREAS, current fire conditions such as low humidity, dry weather, wind and
fire fuel moisture content have resulted in conditions of extreme risk of fires; and
WHEREAS, given these circumstances, the probability of ignition of materials
and the spread of fire pose a severe threat to persons and property; and
WHEREAS, current drought indices published by the National Weather Service
and other relevant information supplied by the United States Forest Service further
indicate extreme or severe drought conditions; and
WHEREAS, the health, safety and welfare of citizens are in danger as a result of
such conditions; and
WHEREAS, NMSA 1978, 60-2C-8.1(E) (1999), et seq., provides that the Board
of County Commissioners of Santa Fe County (BCC) may, after hearing, declare that
extreme or severe drought conditions exist, and proclaim certain restrictions on the sale
and use of fireworks.
NOW, THEREFORE, the BCC, having conducting a public hearing, hereby
resolves, declares and proclaims, as follows:


1. There currently exists within the unincorporated portions of the County
extreme or severe drought conditions, creating a significant and immediate
threat due to wildfires to the life, safety, health and welfare of residents of the
County, and to public and private property located within the County.


2. The sale and use of missile-type rockets, helicopters, aerial spinners, sticktype
rockets and ground audible devices are banned within all unincorporated
portions of the County.


3. The use of fireworks not listed in Paragraph 2 above is limited to areas that
are paved or barren or have a readily accessible source of water for use by the
homeowner or general public.


4. The use of all fireworks within wildlands in the County is banned, the State
Forester having been consulted as required by statute and having concurred
with such ban.


5. The sale and use of display fireworks are banned within the unincorporated
portions of the County.

6. Public displays of fireworks as defined by Santa Fe County Ordinance No.
1988-3 shall be permitted.


7. This resolution shall be effective for 30 days from the date below, but may be
reissued if severe or extreme drought conditions warrant. Further, this
Resolution may be modified or rescinded within the 30 days of their
effectiveness if the BCC, after conducting an emergency hearing, determines
that weather conditions have improved.


PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 12th day of June 2018.