CIBOLA COUNTY, NM — Although Cibola County has approved for tighter fireworks rules due to worsening drought, officials want the public to know: fireworks are not banned outright.
According to County Fire Marshal Dustin Middleton, confusion arose after media reports used the term “ban” to describe the county’s proposed Emergency Ordinance 012025. While the ordinance would ban use of highrisk items like firecrackers, aerial rockets, and missile-type fireworks, it still permits the use of lower-risk fireworks— such as fountains and sparklers—but only in controlled conditions; these include paved, barren areas or places with accessible water.
These restrictions apply to the unincorporated areas of Cibola County, like San Mateo, San Rafael, and Seboyeta; and in the Village of Milan. These restrictions will not effect the City of Grants.
The restrictions come as 100 percent of Cibola County remains in drought, with nearly 60 percent now classified as Extreme Drought (D3). According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 2025 is currently the eighth driest year on record for Cibola, with no measurable snowpack left and local reservoirs, like Bluewater Lake, continuing to fall. Officials say dry grass, brush, and even fence posts have become fuel sources, raising the stakes for even small sparks.