06/19/2026
Let’s talk about Fireworks.
On June 20, fireworks will go on sale for the 2026 Independence Day season.
The State Forrester has already implemented a ban on lighting fireworks in the unincorporated parts of San Juan County.
From the current fire ban:
“Fireworks are prohibited statewide on non-municipal, non-federal and non-Tribal lands covered wholly or in part in timber, brush, grass, grain, or other flammable vegetation. The state forester is allowing exceptions to the ban on fireworks that do not require prior written approval where they are a part of a public exhibit approved by the local fire department.”
State law does not empower local jurisdictions to ban the sale of fireworks. Local jurisdictions may *limit* the sale of fireworks based on drought conditions; however, the current state fire ban includes fireworks on unincorporated land and is broader than San Juan County could implement.
Additionally, we will be running our normal firework enforcement patrols in conjunction with the Juan County Sheriff's Office NM and local law enforcement. Tickets will be issued to violators. As a reminder, there are a limited number of patrols that will cover almost 3,000 square miles, and it takes time for a patrol to get to a report.
In short, we are under a burn ban that includes discharging fireworks on lands covered wholly or in part in timber, brush, grass, grain, or other flammable materials, and are relying on YOU to celebrate responsibly and in a safe manner.
