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Commission proclaims July 4 and hears fireworks-safety briefing from TNT and state fire prevention staff
Summary
The El Paso County Board of County Commissioners proclaimed July 4 as Independence Day in the county and received a fireworks-safety presentation from TNT Fireworks and the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control promoting the "bucket brigade" safety campaign and materials in English and Spanish.
The Board of County Commissioners proclaimed July 4 as Independence Day for El Paso County during its June 24 meeting and heard a safety briefing from fireworks retailers and state fire-safety staff.
Chair Carrie Geithner read a proclamation recognizing the signing of the Declaration of Independence and formally "proclaims July 4 as Independence Day in El Paso County and urges all residents to celebrate the birth of this great nation with patriotic displays of our flag, red, white, and blue, parades, and traditional firework displays." The proclamation as read referenced historical dates and the county's request that residents celebrate responsibly.
Bridal Cottrell, representing TNT Fireworks, thanked the board for the opportunity and encouraged families to follow local laws and safety guidance. Melissa Neff, community risk reduction specialist with the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, described the state's "bucket brigade" campaign, which provides large bucket stickers and small child-sized stickers and a QR code linking to safety videos in English and Spanish. Neff described outreach to libraries (including some out-of-state requests) and urged safe disposal of used fireworks by soaking them in a bucket of water before disposal.
Why this matters: Commissioners said fireworks stands are legal in the county and celebrated local traditions while emphasizing fire safety. Vice Chair Holly Williams and other commissioners suggested distributing the bucket-brigade stickers at high-traffic county locations such as the Department of Motor Vehicles and thanked local fire departments for public-education work.
Action and next steps: The proclamation was moved, seconded and adopted on a roll-call vote; commissioners later invited the public to help place flags outside Centennial Hall after the meeting. County staff said they will accept the safety materials from the presenters and distribute them to county agencies and fire departments.
Safety guidance emphasized during the briefing included supervising children, keeping water nearby, discouraging children from handling fireworks, and soaking used fireworks in water before disposal to prevent later ignition.
No formal ordinance or regulatory change was proposed at the meeting; the discussion focused on public education and the proclamation.
