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Santa Fe County bans certain fireworks during declared severe drought
Summary
Responding to expanding drought and elevated fire risk, the Board prohibited specified fireworks and restricted other fireworks use in unincorporated areas and wildlands for a 30‑day period under a resolution approved June 10, 2025.
Santa Fe County — The Board of County Commissioners on June 10 adopted a resolution declaring severe drought conditions and banning the sale and use of certain types of fireworks in unincorporated areas and wildlands of the county.
County fire staff said that abnormally warm temperatures, low humidity, high winds and abundant dry fuels elevated the risk of accidental human‑caused wildland fires. The resolution bans missile‑type rockets, aerial spinners, stick rockets and ground audible devices across the affected drought area, prohibits fireworks sales of display fireworks in the unincorporated county and limits other consumer fireworks to paved or barren areas with an accessible water source. Fire officials also said the U.S. Forest Service has implemented Stage 1 fire restrictions for the Santa Fe National Forest.
Commissioners noted that state law constrains the duration of local fireworks bans and that law enforcement is responsible for citations and enforcement; the county will issue a press release and coordinate outreach with local tribal authorities and municipal partners, officials said. The board approved the measure without recorded opposition.
Why it matters: Summer heat and low moisture increase the likelihood that stray fireworks will ignite wildfires. The ban aims to reduce that risk ahead of the peak fire season and to coordinate county action with state and federal restrictions.
