Fireworks tent kicks up booming ruckus

MORIARTY, N.M. (KRQE) - The billboards let folks know a tent on prime land next to Interstate 40 is a great place to stop for serious fireworks.

But they don't mention the town of Moriarty says the Arizona-based business is no longer legal in the town.

For the last eight years the owner of a fireworks tent, his wife, and their employees have traveled from Arizona to Moriarty to set up a fireworks tent right along I-40 before the Fourth of July. It's prime real estate because it's right next to a pair of popular year-round fireworks stores.

But the out-of-towners are suddenly getting the cold shoulder in Moriarty. The city denied their permit this year.

"The city in fact encourages the sales of fireworks," Moriarty Fire Chief Steven Spann said. "We've never banned fireworks sales in the city."

But a city ordinance approved after the Fourth of July last year banned the sale of fireworks from tents.

The fire chief told KRQE News 13 there is process to shut the tent down, and that could take at least 10 days. The owner of the fireworks tent can stay open until his case goes to court, which means he can conduct business through the Fourth of July.

The city was hoping the state Fire Marshal's Office would come in and shut the tent down Wednesday. But the inspector didn't find anything wrong and decided to leave the permit fight up to the city.

The owner of the tent also owns the land where he sets up shop, so he could build a permanent fireworks store there. And he says he might just do that.