Governor urges local restrictions on fireworks

SILVER CITY — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed an executive order urging New Mexico municipalities and counties to ban the retail sale of fireworks in their communities. The request for additional preventive action comes as numerous wildfires burn throughout New Mexico and severe drought conditions persist across the state.

While state statute does not enable the executive to implement a statewide ban on fireworks, the executive order follows the implementation of statewide fire restrictions prohibiting fireworks, outdoor smoking, campfires and open burning for all non-municipal, non-federal and non-tribal lands, according to a news release.

According to the United States Drought Monitor, more than 70 percent of New Mexico is experiencing extreme to exceptional drought conditions, with 93 percent of the state experiencing at least severe drought conditions. Multiple counties and tribal nations across New Mexico have recently implemented burn bans, in addition to federal authorities imposing Stage 1 and Stage 2 fi re restrictions on federal lands throughout the state, according to the release.