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Pecos council tables fireworks-sales ordinance after safety warnings from emergency services
Summary
Wildman Ranch requested a 10-year extension for a fireworks sales grandfather clause; Reeves County emergency services and the city emergency manager warned the city’s adopted 2021 International Fire Code prohibits sale/possession/use and that a local ordinance allowing sales would create a legal conflict and public-safety liability. Council voted to table the ordinance for legal review.
A Wildman Ranch representative asked the Pecos City Council to honor an existing ordinance provision that would allow a fireworks-selling business to receive a 10-year extension if no residential development occurred within 200 feet. The representative said the business had operated at the site for 35 years and that prior council commitments influenced a prior sale.
Reeves County Emergency Services and Emergency Manager Jerry Bullard urged caution. "Allowing fireworks sales inside the city limits would create a direct conflict with the adopted fire code," Bullard said, and warned that such a conflict could expose the city, ESD and first responders to liability and weakened enforcement in the event of fire or injury. The chief highlighted repeated national incident patterns tied to consumer fireworks and urged the council not to continue any ordinance allowing sales inside city limits.
Council members asked for legal research on whether the city’s ordinance could lawfully override the adopted 2021 International Fire Code or whether the fire code supersedes the local ordinance. After discussion, Councilman Corona moved and Councilman Graham seconded a motion to table the item to allow the city attorney to research legal boundaries and report at the next meeting. The motion carried by voice vote.
