Fireworks Ban Enacted for Unincorporated Prowers County
Russ Baldwin | Jun 16, 2011 | Comments 0
The Prowers County Sheriff and Prowers County Board of Commissioners issued a press release today, June 16, stating,
“During this high fire danger time posed by extreme dry conditions, we greatly appreciate the public’s partnership and assistance in keeping the fire hazard to a minimum and thereby our County a safer place. Due to the high fire danger, effective, June 16, 2011, the Prowers County Sheriff, as the County Fire Marshall, hereby bans the setting off of ALL fireworks in all unincorporated areas of Prowers County. All violators will be ticketed and all fireworks will be confiscated. In addition, in connection with the Prowers County Commissioners, this will serve as notice to the public that any persons found to be littering with fireworks materials on County property or in the unincorporated areas of the County will be ticketed.” The commissioners added that the ban applies to any type of firework that needs to be lit, including hand held sparklers.
Prowers County and southeast Colorado have been under numerous Red Flag warning days, issued by the National Weather Service when the danger of fire across the high plains increases. Hot temperatures, coupled with the on-going drought and persistent winds have elevated the danger of additional prairie fires in our region. Bent County has also issued a fire ban that includes the sale and use of fireworks anywhere in Bent County and the Las Animas city council is planning to take similar action. The issue in Prowers County is being discussed between Sheriff Jim Faull and Lamar Police Chief Gary McCrea to determine if and how a similar ban may be imposed by the Lamar City Council. The Prowers County ban applies for unincorporated areas of the county, which excludes the city of Lamar.
The commissioners stated their disappointment with citizens who blow off fireworks at various gathering points of county property, such as the fairgrounds during the July 4th fireworks display, and leave mounds of litter behind. “The general clean up of the fairgrounds parking lot last year ran around $1,000 even though there were plenty of trash cans available,” they stated, “People just drove off and left it there.” Sheriff Faull said he will contact the Sheriff’s Posse members on their availability to be on patrol and ticket violators on the spot.
By Russ Baldwin
Filed Under: Commissioners • community • County • Entertainment • Featured • Lamar • Law Enforcement • Public Safety
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