With tinderbox conditions across the state, Coloradans should heed the red-flag warnings and keep their fires contained to backyard barbecue grills this Fourth of July weekend.
A patchwork of bans have been enacted across the state. Most counties have some sort of fire restrictions in place. Others also ban the sales of fireworks, and some even ban their use.
For example, it’s illegal to sell or light fireworks anywhere in Jefferson County – in its cities or unincorporated areas – yet in neighboring Adams County, depending on where you live, you might be able to do both.
No matter where you live, we think Coloradans ought to let the professionals send up the fireworks this year.
There are plenty of personal-safety reasons to do that. In 2004, 9,600 people were treated at hospital emergency rooms in the United States for fireworks-related injuries.
But beyond that, the conditions in Colorado are just too dry and too dangerous for amateurs to be setting off bottle rockets or other things that go pop in the night.
So far this year, 635 fires have torched more than 76,400 acres in Colorado – 337 ignited by lightning but 298 caused by people.
In 2002, the most recent year with similar dry conditions and high fire danger, Gov. Bill Owens banned the sale and use of fireworks statewide, mostly because counties at that time didn’t have authority to ban the sale of fireworks. Cities could ban fireworks sales, but counties could only prohibit their use.
The legislature changed the law that year, and now a handful of counties, including Boulder, Larimer, Douglas, Jefferson and El Paso, have fireworks bans. Since the counties have the option, Owens isn’t considering a statewide ban at this point.
In 2002, several professional fireworks displays were cancelled, but so far that’s not the case this year. We’d urge residents to take in a show, rather than light their own.
The big shows start Saturday night after the Denver Outlaws lacrosse game at Invesco Field at Mile High; at Clement Park in Jefferson County; at the Colorado National Speedway in Erie; and at the I-76 Speedway in Fort Morgan.
For a full list, see today’s 7Days section in The Denver Post, or go online to www.denverpost.com.
