Firework ban in unincorporated El Paso County; officials warn of high fire danger despite record moisture
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office has just made the sale or use of any fireworks illegal within unincorporated parts of the county.
Despite the region getting more rain in May than Seattle and Portland combined, the Colorado Springs area still isn't in a good spot in terms of fire danger; according to officials.
Security Fire Department Capt. Zachary Mesnik said the relief the rain brings to our region is actually short-lived and is ineffective in the long run.
“With the wet season that we’ve had so far, we’ve seen a lot of growth," said Mesnik. "So with the dry season following that, there’s going to be faster-growing fires that occur, that will be burning hotter.”
Even with the Fourth of July over a month away, fire officials are already responding to calls for firework-related incidents. They typically respond to hundreds of them during this time of year.
"People don’t follow the same safety precautions we would expect to see," said Mesnik. "Aerial fireworks usually cause big problems, getting on to people's houses and in their yards."
Violators of the firework ban face up to $750 in fines, and/or six months of jail time.
Illegal fireworks now in El Paso County include:
- Bottle rockets
- Firecrackers of any type
- Mortars
- Roman candles
- Fountains
- Ground spinners
- Smoke Bombs
- Sparklers
To report the use or sale of illegal fireworks, call the El Paso County Sheriff's Office non-emergency number (719) 390-5555.
