County, Fire, and Law Enforcement Officials Address Fire Threat
As the heat and the drought continue in the El Paso area; city, county and fire officials hold a news conference to urge residents to comply with both the burn and fireworks bans that are in place.
On the heels of three large fires in the last seven days, El Paso County Judge Veronica Escobar, El Paso County Sheriff Richard Wiles, and a host of area fire and law enforcement officials discussed their fears of further fires and exactly what steps they are taking to avoid the fires.
Also in attendance were the City of El Paso’s Assistant Fire Chief and a Captain from the Dona Ana County Fire Department, as well as representatives from other communities from around the area.
According to fire officials, they will be out in large numbers, enforcing the ban on the sale, possession or use of fireworks in all areas of the county. The one exception to that rule is Socorro, where only the use within city limits is banned. However a stern warning was issued by Sheriff Wiles.
Wiles called the decision by Socorro “A disservice to citizens…which does not make any sense at all.”
Also a topic of great concern was the county’s burn ban, in effect since April, and the apparent disregard some county residents have had for that ban.
County Judge Escobar told us, “Unfortunately, not everybody follows the rules and that’s precisely what many of us are worried about this Fourth of July.”
Of those persons ignoring the ban, Sheriff Wiles said, “Burning trash under the county ban would be a Class ‘C’ Misdemeanor, but if that fire spreads and property is damaged or people are injured, then it becomes a different crime entirely.”
Wiles also noted that his department is currently working on cases where residents have violated the burn ban and those cases are now being handled as felonies, due to the property damage sustained.
He added, “(It is) a much more serious offense that would get you prison time.”
County resident Tony Munoz agrees with both Escobar and Wiles saying, “The vendors are going to be selling theem and they’re gonna try and get away with it…just gotta be careful with the winds and all the dried trees and dried grass on the ground …they can catch fire.”
As for any measures to prevent the use of already purchased fireworks, Sheriff Wiles has a plan in mind.
“We are going to allow from today until next Wednesday citizens who are in possession of fireworks to bring those to a sheriff’s office facility or fire facility in the county and turn them in and we will not take enforcement action against them,” Wiles said.
However, should residents try to sneak fireworks out of Socorro or any other area where they’re being sold, Wiles said that his deputies would be out in force as well, looking for violators.
According to officials, plans are in place to have at least 15 Deputies and another dozen or so Search and Rescue Team members in four-wheel drive vehicles enforcing the ban in the Montana Vista area alone.
