COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) – A growing list of southern Colorado communities have cancelled firework shows due to extreme fire risk, but El Paso County leaders have yet to put out similar messaging or respond to questions on the topic.
Wednesday, Colorado Springs announced seven planned public fireworks shows are cancelled for the July 4th weekend. Pueblo announced it’s display on the riverwalk is cancelled. Cañon City fire officials said on Facebook, a planned display at a community park would not take place.
Woodland Park, Cripple Creek, Palmer Lake, and Rocky Ford also all cancelled public fireworks shows in recent weeks. La Junta did not have a fireworks show planned, but leaders recently announced fireworks sales in the city are now illegal.
All of those decisions were made because of extremely dry conditions and wildfire concerns, according to local officials.
Colorado Springs sits in the central-western portion of El Paso County, and the majority of population density in the county is within Colorado Springs city limits. Colorado Springs’ Mayor is asking El Paso County residents not use personal fireworks this holiday weekend, saying that could implicate the city.
“Wildfires do not respect city limits or jurisdictional boundaries,” Mayor Yemi Mobolade said on Tuesday. “For our neighbors in El Paso County, please do not light personal fireworks … No firework is worth risking your neighborhood.”
That was reiterated by the Colorado Springs Fire Marshal on Wednesday.
“Unfortunately, at this time, El Paso County has not banned the sale or use of illegal fireworks, and so that creates a lot of confusion for our community.”
El Paso County is currently under stage two fire restrictions. According to the El Paso County Sheriff Office’s website, that means the sale and use of fireworks are prohibited.
However, El Paso County commissioners passed an ordinance in 2022, carving out protection for the sale and use of personal fireworks from May 31 through July 5, unless county commissioners take action otherwise. Such action would likely require a public meeting and vote with at least 24 hours advanced notice.
Meanwhile, the Aspen Acres fire has burned 35,000 acres and destroyed dozens of homes as of Wednesday night with no relief expected for several days, according to incident command officials.
Three firefighters died fighting the Snyder Fire on the Western Slope this week, underscoring fire danger concerns statewide.
11 News first reached out to El Paso County leaders Tuesday. As of Wednesday, a spokesperson said would send a statement by the end of the day.
This story will be updated once El Paso County provides a response.
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