Dona Ana County Officials React To El Paso County Fireworks Ban

No fireworks may be popping this Fourth of July in El Paso County, but a ban is sparking all kinds of worry across the state line in New Mexico.

“We’re dry as a bone out here, and we will catch on fire,? Dona Ana County Commissioner Karen Perez said.

Commissioners expect a flood of Texans who want to set off fireworks will increase the already extreme risk for fires.

“You can go to them and say that you’ve got a whole board of county commissioners who are very, very concerned,? Commissioner Billy Garrett said, during a meeting Tuesday.

“There will be nothing on the Texas side and everyone will come to New Mexico side,? Fire Marshal Robert Monsivaiz said.

Monsivaiz says a single spark in Dona Ana County is just as flammable as in El Paso, not to mention an increased threat if Texas residents also come across the state line to set off fireworks.

“We have a number of people in this county that because of their economic status, they don?t have insurance for fire on their homes, and if they lose their home they lose everything they have,? Monsivaiz said.

But retailers are just thinking business. Jimmy Nevarez sells everything from bottle rockets to aerials at Diablo Fireworks in Anthony, New Mexico, one of just a few communities allowing the explosives.

“Most people will be afraid to light them and we don’t expect anybody to break the law to light them, but it definitely would help us in the fact we’d be one of the only ones in the area in close proximity to El Paso that could sell aerials,? Nevarez said.

Some county commissioners say they would like to see a statewide ban, but Nevarez says this close to the holiday, more restrictions would put firework vendors in the red.

“How would they feel if their job just closed down, shipped them out and said, ?you don’t have a job,? and basically that’s the same situation we’d be in,? Nevarez said.

Monsivaiz says the fire service has tried to get a statewide fireworks ban approved during similar droughts in the past, but says fireworks lobbyists won, and the legislature turned down the proposal.

“Think about it before you set them off,? Perez said. ?It’s not worth one day of fun to lose your home and your neighbor?s home.”