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Fire chief urges council to consider fireworks restrictions after multiple wildfires
Summary
Following several lightning- and ember-started fires, Fire Chief Brandon Martins told council the Ash Pole fire is about 90% contained and urged coordinated local restrictions or a ban on certain fireworks while drought conditions persist; council agreed to place the topic on a future agenda for public input.
Fire Chief Brandon Martins updated the City of Chadron council on a recent surge of wildfires and urged council consideration of restrictions on fireworks this summer.
Martins — introduced by the city manager as the fire chief — told the council that the Ash Pole fire is roughly 90% contained, and that multiple starts between Harrison and Chadron brought a large mutual-aid response. He said dry conditions (D3 drought status on the U.S. drought monitor) and recent activity mean fireworks pose an outsized risk this season.
"It's a hard discussion, and I don't know what the exact right answer is... but I think we make it up there on the city's website page and make sure everyone's aware and bring the discussions out," Martins said, urging a coordinated approach between the city and the Chatham Rural Fire District and that the council coordinate with county commissioners for area consistency.
Council members acknowledged the public's desire for celebrations and asked that the issue be placed on a future agenda to allow public input; some members suggested exploring a community fireworks event as an alternative and encouraged early public notice so vendors and residents can prepare.
The council did not adopt any immediate restrictions at the meeting; members asked staff to add the topic to a future agenda for public comment and possible action.
