City warns of dry weather conditions, urges citizens to be cautious and abstain from using high-risk fire sources
The City of Farmington is urging residents to be cautious as dry weather conditions pose fire hazards. Farmington City Council during Tuesday night’s meeting passed a resolution urging citizens to abstain from using fire sources that could lead to deadly and/or destructive consequences during periods of extreme drought. The resolution emphasizes the hazards of open burning, disposal of improperly extinguished cigarettes, fireworks and the use of other fire sources under extremely dry conditions. The resolution is available HERE.
Acting Farmington Fire Chief Robert Sterrett explained in the meeting, “The city of Farmington and a majority of San Juan County are currently in exceptional drought, which is the worst level we can be in.” Drought information and weather forecasts are obtained from the National Weather Service and United States Forest Service.
In addition to the resolution, Farmington City Council issued a proclamation limiting the use of otherwise permissible fireworks (cone fountains, crackling devices, cylindrical fountains, flitter sparklers, ground spinners, illuminating torches, toy smoking devices and wheels) to areas within city limits that are paved or barren or that have a readily accessible source of water for use by the homeowner or the general public. The proclamation is available HERE.
The proclamation will remain in effect for 30 days. However, the city council may extend the proclamation if extreme dry weather conditions continue.
Farmington Municipal Code 13-5-7 prohibits the use of aerial devices (aerial spinners, helicopters, mines, missile-type rockets, Roman candles, shells, stick-type rockets and stick-type rockets having a tube less than a one-quarter-inch inside diameter) and ground audible devices (chasers and firecrackers) within city limits thought the year. This is the most restrictive measure municipalities may take under New Mexico state law.
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