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Colfax County extends temporary fireworks ban for unincorporated areas amid continuing drought concerns
Summary
The Colfax County Commission adopted a 30-day fireworks ban for unincorporated areas after emergency management reported drying trends and fuels that could carry fire through June into early July. Commissioners noted the 30-day limit comes from state law and will be revisited at the next meeting.
The Colfax County Commission voted to enact a temporary ban on fireworks in unincorporated parts of the county, citing ongoing drought and drying fuels that emergency management says could create fire risk through early July.
Tom Vigil, Colfax County emergency manager, recommended continuing the existing fire ban and specifically urged adoption of a fireworks ban. "We are looking at a critical period, coming through June up until the July 4," Vigil said, citing grass and light flashy fuels that can dry quickly. He reported a forecasted drying trend until the onset of monsoon season and said local fire chiefs were mostly supportive.
Commissioner comments and county counsel clarified the legal timeline. "This is only for the unincorporated parts of Colfax County. It does not include any incorporated parts," one commissioner stated on the record when the scope was discussed. County attorney Sherman reminded the commission that the 30-day limit for such a ban is a statutory limitation in state law and advised keeping the item as a regular agenda matter for the next two to three months.
The motion to enact the fireworks ban carried by roll call (Commissioner Kern: yes; Commissioner Trujillo: yes; Chairman Tatum: yes). Commissioners recorded that the ban would be re-evaluated at the commission's second meeting in June and can be renewed or lifted based on updated conditions.
