Fireworks restrictions remain in place despite monsoon

Mike Smith
Carlsbad Current-Argus

Restrictions on the sale and use of certain fireworks within the limits of the City of Carlsbad remained in place despite rainfall in the area recently.

Carlsbad’s City Council reaffirmed an ordinance passed nearly 10 years ago prohibiting the use and sale of aerial and ground audible fireworks, said City of Carlsbad Fire Department Chief Richard Lopez.

He said the restrictions were meant to protect the public and its public lands.

More:Fireworks vendors OK with certain fireworks restrictions due to continued dry spell

The Cavern City Air Terminal received 51-hundredths of an inch of rain as of June 24, said Paul Pastelok, senior meteorologist with Pennsylvania based forecasting service AccuWeather. He said normal precipitation for Carlsbad during late June was 74-hundredths of an inch of rain.

“We’ll take anything that we can get,” he said.

Thunderheads rise above the landscape in Artesia on June 23, 2022. Eddy County and New Mexico received beneficial rains during the start of Monsoon season.

Pastelok said Hobbs received 1.63 inches of rain. The New Mexico State University Agricultural Science Center between Artesia and Carlsbad received 1.4 inches of rain since June 17.

Chaves County National Weather Service Skywarn Coordindator Jim Tucker said Roswell received 1.29 of rain inches as of June 24.  

More:Carlsbad and Artesia enact bans on certain fireworks as drought worsens in Eddy County

The monsoon season in New Mexico begins around June 15 and ends around Sept. 30, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

“With the onset of the monsoon, New Mexico is typically impacted by a variety of weather hazards that can often put the population at risk for serious injury or death. Thunderstorm frequency increases during this period, while exceptionally hot days are common as well,” read the NWS website.

James Fuller of TNT Fireworks said the rains were welcome even as his company prepared to open sales Friday in Eddy, Chaves, and Lea counties.

A cloud dots the Eddy County landscape on June 23, 2022. New Mexico and Eddy County received beneficial rains in June, the traditional start of the rainy season.

“Everyday it’s been check the weather, The Old Farmers Almanac and pray for the monsoons that sometimes come late or sometimes come not at all here in New Mexico. This is dear to our heart,” he said.

“We’ve seen a noted difference in the climate areas that we were most concerned about. We are seeing a number of opportunities to open a number of our facilities in different locations across the state. I think we’ll be selling fireworks in the communities, provided leadership lift the bans,” Fuller said.

He said those who purchase fireworks should practice safety when using them.

More:Fire options mulled by Eddy County including enforcement of statewide fire restrictions

“Consumers and parents don’t want to put themselves in a position where they are unknowingly breaking the law,” Fuller said.

“As an individual even though you might be able to use the fireworks, even though you’re legal and even though you are going to stay safe if you look around and you’re in area where you’re planning to light those fireworks off, and you see there’s extra dry conditions that could ignite, you’re not being responsible,” he said.

Pastelok said despite the recent moisture and though consumers might use fireworks safely, taking extra precautions to avoid igniting a fire was recommended.

“There are still some parts out there that are not getting the type of rain (they should be receiving). Albuquerque is 300 percent above normal right now. So, there’s spots that are not getting it. I think this has helped for the Fourth of July,” Pastelok said.

More:Fire restrictions put in place across New Mexico, as legislators work to mitigate wildfire impacts

Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at MSmith@currentargus.com or @ArgusMichae on Twitter.