Current dry conditions across Doña Ana County make any fire, including sparks from fireworks especially dangerous, according to Doña Ana County Interim Fire Chief Eric Crespin.
“We are seeing dryer than usual conditions across the whole state and in our county,”
Crespin said. “We advise everyone to join electronic, electric and remote visual celebrations this year to help keep our community safe.”
Both the National Park Service and the federal Bureau of Land Management imposed Stage II fire restrictions on many federal lands in the state. In New Mexico, that means it is prohibited to build, maintain, attend or use a fire campfire, charcoal, coal or stove fire with few and very specific exemptions.
Doña Ana County’s 3,804 square miles include 2,854 square miles managed by the Bureau of Land Management, approximately 904 square miles in the Organ Mountains/ Desert Peaks National Monument and 445 square miles of private land.
“Dry conditions make it much easier for brush fires to spark and spread fast, placing lives, animals and structures at high and unnecessary risk,” Crespin said. “We encourage everyone to keep safety in mind and be aware of what is around them, while lighting fireworks.”
Fireworks allowed to be purchased and discharged in Doña Ana County are ground and hand-held sparkling and smoking devices, such as cone fountains, crackling devices, cylindrical fountains, flitter sparklers, illuminating torches, smoke devices and wheels.
Fireworks banned for possession, sale or use throughout the County are aerial and ground audible devices such as: aerial spinners, helicopters, mines, missile-type rockets, Roman candles, shells, stick-type rockets, chasers and firecrackers.
To report illegal fireworks, please call (575) 526-0795.
For more information about Doña Ana County, please visit www.donaanacounty.org.