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Sheriff rescinds approval; Pinal supervisors withdraw Saddle Brook fireworks permit amid wildfire concerns
Summary
After the sheriff withdrew his prior sign-off citing dry conditions and recent wildland fire activity, the Board of Supervisors withdrew a fireworks-display permit for Saddle Brook scheduled for July 4. Fire and emergency-management officials warned that local resources remain strained after recent large wildfires.
Pinal County supervisors withdrew consideration of a fireworks permit for a July 4 display at Saddle Brook on June 18 after Sheriff Ross Teeples rescinded previous approval, citing dry conditions and recent wildfire activity in the area.
Sheriff Ross Teeples told the board he had originally approved the permit when weather forecasts indicated rain, but "after seeing the devastation that happened in the Cody fire" he could not "in good conscience" allow the display to proceed. "I want them to have their Fourth of July celebration, but I want them to have it safely," the sheriff said.
Public-safety officials briefed the board on local fire risk. Corey Redden, deputy director for emergency management, said the Saddle Brook area is proximate to the Cody fire burn and that heavy fuels remain in surrounding areas. Redden noted that the Cody fire burned roughly 1,200 acres, caused evacuations and destroyed homes, and that state and local fire resources remain committed across multiple active wildfires. "I witnessed falling embers that ignited brush a mile and a half away from a firework display," Redden said.
Golden Ranch Fire District Chief Tom Brandhueber, whose district includes Saddle Brook, said his team could not justify the risk under current conditions. The sheriff also described the cost of fighting the recent Cody/Oracle fire, saying authorities used about $3.1 million in slurry alone.
Because a statute requires the sheriff's approval for a fireworks display in unincorporated areas, the board could not act on the item once the sheriff rescinded his earlier sign-off. Chairman Miller asked for a formal withdrawal; the board then voted to withdraw item 11 from the agenda.
Alternative suggestions: supervisors and emergency staff suggested nonpyrotechnic public-safety alternatives such as drone or laser shows as ways to mark Independence Day without increasing wildfire risk.
Outcome: the fireworks permit was withdrawn and will not be approved by the board at this time. The sheriff's rescission and officials' safety concerns were recorded on the public record.
