This ban pertains to consumer fireworks in all of unincorporated Pinal County. Residents within Pinal County’s incorporated communities should check with their local city or town before including fireworks in their celebrations.
Similar bans are in effect in other jurisdictions including Maricopa County, Pima County, Coconino County, Cochise County, State Trust Lands and the Bureau of Land Management.
The ban does not affect or cancel commercial fireworks displays. Community fireworks shows are likely to still take place, albeit with heightened care.
According to data tracked by the National Interagency Fire Center, wildfires have claimed more than 3.1 million acres in the United States since the start of the year. A total of 3.2 million acres were lost to wildfires last year – for the whole year. A CNN report indicates that the number of acres burned thus far in 2011 is three times the 10-year average.
“We have dispatched Pinal County employees to assist with the Wallow Fire and Monument Fires,” Supervisor David Snider said. “We have been fortunate to have no loss of life but the property loss is incredible. We cannot afford to take the chance and add to the strain on our firefighting resources.”
“I support this action due to the tremendous risk our state is facing. Some of the most beautiful terrain in Arizona has burned. Extreme fire risk coupled with no rain is already a recipe for disaster. We cannot add fireworks to the mix,” Vice Chairman Bryan Martyn said.
“These fires are making a bad situation worse. The cost to fight wildland fires is phenomenal and we’re under intense financial strain as it is. When the rains come and the risk subsides, we can look at lifting the ban,” Chairman Pete Rios said after the meeting.
View the statute cited in this release at http://azleg.gov/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/ars/36/01606.htm&Title=36&DocType=ARS.
This was released June 2011 and still applies today in 2012.
