SAN LUIS — On Thursday Costilla County passed a resolution banning open fires and fireworks while there is a Red Flag Warning in effect.
Stating the drought conditions in Costilla County “may result in the ignition of uncontrolled or uncontrollable wildfires of such severity that said conditions pose an immediate threat to the public health, safety and welfare of the residents and property of Costilla County,” the Costilla County commissioners on April 12 banned “all open fires and the sale, purchase and ignition of fireworks” in unincorporated areas of Costilla County, effective immediately.
The commissioners enacted the ban on the recommendation of the fire marshal for the Costilla County Fire District and the Costilla County sheriff who said the ban was necessary for public health.
The only exception is allowance for agricultural weed burns as long as property owners or ditch companies and/or associations notify the Costilla County sheriff prior to an agricultural burn, and the sheriff and/or fire district fire chief may impose restrictions on such burns.
Anyone violating the ban may be subject to criminal sanctions.