In New Mexico, Arizona Fire Danger and Drought Spark Fireworks Concerns

The fire season has been relatively mild across the West this year, but officials in New Mexico and Arizona are doing what they can to rein in the use of fireworks given the dry conditions plaguing both states.

New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez has been pushing hard for cities and counties to restrict fireworks with local ordinances.

New Mexico’s most populous cities are among the nearly two dozen municipalities and counties around the state that have already passed measures, but authorities still fear the possibility of an uptick in fire activity heading into the Fourth of July holiday.

In Arizona, sales of fireworks are permissible but a recent change in state law gave rural counties the option of banning the use of fireworks to prevent wildfires.