Rains wash away some fireworks limits

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - With the wet conditions New Mexico has seen in the last few months fireworks restrictions have eased in most counties across the state.

Many rural counties have lifted their ban on fireworks including Chaves County which made the change last week.

The change has many more people setting up fireworks stands. It's often the yearly fundraiser for churches and other non-profit groups.

Darnell Worrell and his friends are part of a church group and have set up at Arenal Road SW and Isleta Boulevard.

Worrell said his group is optimistic this year because of the wetter conditions.

"Some years are better than others, we see a greater profit," Worrell said. "This year should be good."

Despite the wetter conditions fire departments across the state are warning people to be careful with fireworks.

The devices are always banned in the national forests, and last week Bernalillo County banned them in some unincorporated areas, especially those closest to the Sandia Mountains.

In Albuquerque the same restrictions apply.

"As a general rule of thumb shooting something into the air, some type of flaming ball or other debris, is illegal," Capt. Andrew Chavez, the city fire marshal said.

Chavez said the Albuquerque Fire Department will begin extra patrols Thursday night to catch people using illegal fireworks.

"It's real easy for people to go outside city limits into another county and purchase fireworks not allowed in the city of Albuquerque," Chavez said. "Just bringing those fireworks into the city of Albuquerque is a misdemeanor."

AFD has set up a hotline for reporting illegal fireworks at 833-7335.