Courtesy photo

COUNTY News:

The Los Alamos County Fire Marshal has recommended that the fireworks restrictions continue in Los Alamos County for another 30 days, due to continued extremely dry conditions throughout the County.

The extension of the proclamation that would extend from June 24 through July 25, 2013 will go to County Council at its meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 25 in the new Council Chambers at the Municipal Building, 1000 Central Ave.

NOTE: Nothing in this Proclamation shall prohibit a County-approved display of fireworks (such as the annual Kiwanis extravaganza at Overlook Park.)

No other changes were made to the restrictions, which includes the ban on sale and use of certain fireworks. Previous text of the proclamation is posted below:

• On June 4, the Council passed the proclamation below, which is effective immediately and impacts use or sale of fireworks in Los Alamos County. It is in effect for the next 30 days:

Proclamation

WHEREAS: the weather in North Central New Mexico, including Los Alamos County, has been extremely dry, resulting in extreme or severe drought conditions in Los Alamos County; and

WHEREAS: the National Weather Service publishes drought indices which indicate that drought conditions are likely to continue and deteriorate for the next 30 days, including Los Alamos County; and

WHEREAS: the United States Forest Service has declared Stage 2 fire restrictions in the National Forest in and around Los Alamos County; and

WHEREAS: Stage 2 fire restrictions are based upon such factors as fuel conditions, humidity, lack of precipitation and weather forecasts; and

WHEREAS: heavy fuel loading, low humidity, heat and wind forecasts in the County increases the danger of wildland, brush, grass and forest fires to extremely high in Los Alamos County; and

WHEREAS: these fires would threaten homes and structures, putting the health and safety of our citizens at risks; and

WHEREAS: pursuant to the New Mexico Fireworks Licensing and Safety Act, Section 60-2C-1 et. seq. NMSA 1978, as amended, the Los Alamos County Council is authorized to ban or limit the use and sale of certain fireworks when extreme or severe drought conditions exist as determined by the County Council based upon National Weather Service indices and other relevant information supplied by the United States Forest Service; and

NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the Incorporated County of Los Alamos does hereby proclaim that locally extreme or severe drought conditions exist and high fire hazards represent a significant and immediate threat to the safety, health, and welfare of our citizens in Los Alamos County; and

THEREFORE, sale and use of aerial fireworks and ground audible fireworks including helicopters, aerial spinners, missile type rockets, stick type rockets, chasers and firecrackers are prohibited for the next thirty (30) days in accordance with state statute and the County Code;

THEREFORE, the use of roman candles, shells and mines is limited within Los Alamos County to areas that are paved or barren or that have a readily accessible source of water for use by any homeowner or the public; and

THEREFORE, Nothing in this Proclamation shall prohibit a County – approved display of fireworks, except that any individual, association, partnership, corporation, or organization shall comply with the terms of any agreement with the County and shall secure a written permit from the County, and the display fireworks shall be purchased from a distributor or display distributor licensed by the State Fire Marshal and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms at the United States Department of Treasury, pursuant to Section 60-2C-9, NMSA, 1978.

ADOPTED by the Los Alamos County Council this 4th day of June, 2013.