Golden – Fireworks could be sold at temporary stands in Jefferson County prior to Christmas and New Year’s Eve under a policy change proposed Tuesday.
The new sales times would be in addition to the Fourth of July.
The proposal also would allow county commissioners to ban fireworks sales during high fire danger under a state law passed after the 2002 record wildfire season. Temporary fireworks stands would not be permitted when there is a statewide fire ban.
“This would allow flexibility and adjustment to conditions,” Commissioner Kevin McCasky said.
Citing high wildfire danger, the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners banned the sale of fireworks June 28.
Commissioner Jim Congrove suggested at the time that fireworks vendors could make up some of the lost sales by selling at other times of the year.
“Generally speaking, in the colder season, we don’t have some of the potential of wildfire risks,” said planning director Tim Carl.
Allowing temporary stands a few weeks before Christmas through New Year’s Eve “really wouldn’t be worth it,” said Aeron Calkins, president of Olde Glory Fireworks.
“Half of a percent of our sales occur over New Year’s,” Calkins said. “People come into our permanent location at 5501 Federal Blvd. year-round, and it is not something that happens to pick up at that time of year here.”
Calkins and other fireworks vendors unsuccessfully challenged Jefferson County’s sales ban. He would like a program to educate people about which fireworks are permissible in Colorado – those that don’t explode and don’t leave the ground.
The latest county proposal, which the county board will consider in two to three weeks, won’t do much for vendors’ bottom line, Calkins added.
“I understand where they’re coming from,” he said. “Thank you, but that doesn’t help us.”
Staff writer Ann Schrader can be reached at 303-278-3217 or aschrader@denverpost.com.
