City of Grants Passes Firework Restrictions

GRANTS, N.M. – Cibola County is experiencing its 17th driest year in the 175 years of drought tracking in the county. Fire danger is at an extreme high, and before the peak of fire season, New Mexico has experienced the largest wildfire in state history this year. Several measures have gone into effect across Cibola to counter fire danger, including a closure of the Cibola National Forest and associated trails.

After a lengthy debate in the Grants City Council Chambers on June 6, the city council voted unanimously to put firework restrictions in place. Ariel fireworks will not be allowed in the City of Grants, the restrictions will be revisited at the regular Grants City Council meeting on June 29 at 6 p.m. where the city will decide whether to continue the restrictions through the July 4 holiday or lift them. The council discussed lifting the restrictions if there is significant rainfall that would lower the fire threat by the next regular meeting.

Due to technical difficulties, the City of Grants was unable to livestream the meeting with sound like it usually does on Facebook. City staff are working to correct the technical difficulties for the next meeting. For those citizens who can attend, the meetings are

A lengthy, civilized debate was held in the Grants City Council Chambers. The June 6 meeting began at 3:30 p.m., and did not adjourn until around 6 p.m.

The public debate included private firework vendors, citizens who host private firework shows, two lieutenants from Grants Fire and Rescue, and Chief Jeff Marez of Grants Police Department. The firework debate remained civil through the meeting, with the four councilors and mayor expressing their understanding of the hardship the firework restrictions may bring to local firework vendors while explaining the need to protect the community from fire danger.

Protecting the lands from fire

The meeting opened with firework vendors expressing their concerns in the public comment portion of the meeting about how firework restrictions may affect their bottom line. Several local residents spoke about the need for the restrictions, so as to protect the community from fires.

Local firework vendors explained their hardship in the typical workplace since COVID-19. They expressed the importance of firework sales in their finances, with a representative from the nationwide TNT brand of fireworks explaining that firework sales benefit local nonprofits.

One private citizen who hosts a firework display near the mortuary on Third Street expressed his disappointment with the resolution, and said that he always applies for permits, including noise permits, even when they are not required. He, along with two other local firework vendors were unhappy with the ordinance and explained that the rule change may hurt their sales.

Grants Fire and Rescue Lieutenant Andrew Valencia rose to speak on behalf of the ordinance. He and Lieutenant Mike Maes spoke to the city council, saying “[The fire department and firefighters are] still here and are still going to do our job.”

The firefighters explained that even if the ordinance is passed, it does not have teeth and there would be no penalties for violators of the ordinance. Firework vendors used this as an opportunity to say that citizens will still find fireworks and will still shoot them off, but the tax revenue will not come to the City of Grants. After discussion with the Grants city attorneys and work by the city clerk’s office, it was discovered that the city has an active ordinance from 1998, that was voted on in 2000, which gives penalties of $300 or jail time for firework ordinance violators. Chief Jeff Marez of Grants Police Department said that GPD will work to enforce the ordinance.

Councilor Beverly Michael said that, as a business owner, she understands the hardships that occur when government decisions effect business. She said that the community needs to remain safe in the face of the significant drought which is plaguing Cibola county.

Councilor George Garcia asked the fire lieutenants, if the fire danger is so high, why wasn’t the chief present at the meeting? The lieutenants explained that Chief Robert Hays was on vacation and sent them in his place. Councilor Garcia then said that he wanted to make sure the community was protected from fires because there was a brush fire in his council district just hours before the meeting.

Councilor Zachary Gutierrez expressed concern for the local business owners, but said that the city needed to act to protect the community from the danger of fires.

Councilor Fred Rodarte said that he enjoyed watching fireworks, and asked if the fire department typically sees an increase in fires on the Independence Day holiday. The firefighters said that they always see a significant increase on the Fourth of July and New Year holidays because of fireworks. Rodarte asked if the fire department was equipped well enough to handle potential fires, the firefighters explained that they will do their job to the best of their ability but it will be difficult to draw on other communities in Cibola that have firefighting engines because they will also be out dealing with increased fire danger to their communities.

Mayor Erik Garcia asked a series of questions, and proposed getting the city to work diligently on cleaning out easements and arroyos which can easily spark into brushfires. He suggested using the lawn mower at the Grants-Milan Municipal Airport. Lynn Cannon, airport supervisor, said that she would gladly volunteer her own time to help clean the easements and arroyos if it meant keeping Grants safe.

How bad is the drought?

The United States National Integrated Drought Information System has declared that every single resident of Cibola County are affected by drought. Statistics for May have not yet been posted, but April 2022 was the 12th driest April on record. Drought tracking for Cibola County began 128 years ago. To date, 2022 is the 17th driest year in the history of Cibola County. 100 percent of Cibola County is in severe drought. This means pasture yield is limited, irrigated crop growth is stunted, and dryland crops are brown across the county.

92 percent of Cibola is in extreme drought. Livestock are suffering, crop yield is low, fire danger is extreme, and irrigation allotments are decreased across the county.

Three percent of Cibola County, in the southeast corner, is under exceptional drought. Little to no surface water is available, farmers must use private wells. Water is completely dried up in some sections, and if this increases, the fire danger will increase substantially.

Because of the drought, much of the brush across Cibola is at risk of catching on fire in the event of a single spark landing in the brush.

Ending the restrictions

The ordinance was passed unanimously. Ariel fireworks like bottle rockets are illegal to use in Grants, New Mexico, for the next month. At the Grants City Council meeting on June 29 at 6 p.m. the city council will discuss extending the firework restrictions. They agreed that the restrictions do not need to be extended if there is significant rainfall between now, and the next meeting.

“Pray for rain,” Mayor Garcia said as he closed the meeting. open to the public at 600 W. Santa Fe Avenue, Grants City Hall. Fireworks Debate

Fireworks Debate