El Paso County Begins Steps To Call For Complete Fireworks Ban On 4th Of July

El Paso’s county judge has issued a Declaration of Local Disaster during commissioners court Monday morning, citing the extreme drought conditions.

This is the first step in her plan to request a complete fireworks ban in El Paso county.

During Sunday’s ABC-7 Xtra, County Judge Veronica Escobar said she was extremely concerned about people setting off fireworks in the county, putting residents’ homes and lives at risk. Every year during Independence Day celebrations, thousands flock to the desert areas of Canutillo, Fabens and Montana Vista to set off fireworks. Those areas have seen an increase in their population in the past few years, and areas that were once deserted are now peppered with homes.

The county, like it’s done in previous years, has instituted a ban on aerial fireworks — rockets with sticks and missiles with fins. At this point, there is little change in the restrictions, as customers can buy the same fireworks they were able to buy last year.

But that could change by the end of the week.

According to Escobar, the declaration issued today would be in effect for 60 hours but she said she will ask Governor Rick Perry to extend it until July 6th.

If the governor grants that extension, Escobar said she will then ask commissioners to ban the sale and use of all fireworks this Fourth of July during a special meeting Tuesday, except for professional displays.

“It’s never been attempted before,” said the county’s fire marshal, Chief Stephen Hoeller during ABC-7 Xtra. “With the rising cost of fighting these fires and the cleanup, besides the drought — (although) the drought is pushing the major issue here — we feel we have to conserve our resources.”

The plan is not sitting well with fireworks vendors, who say the plan is threatening their legitimate business and their livelihood.

“I would like to see us work with the County and the fire department and get these ‘safe areas’ where we can maybe alleviate taking an all-out ban because that’s devastating to a lot of people,” said TNT Fireworks Owner Fernie Viramontes, but concurred with authorities “I don’t want anybody’s place to burn down.”

“I absolutely am very sympathetic to the industry,” said Escobar, “but I am more concerned about the safety and welfare of the residents in the unincorporated areas of this community.”

“Frankly, (it is) some of the more vulnerable citizens in this community with access to fewer resources who are most at risk,” Escobar said.