Dolores County communities cancel fireworks amid red flag fire danger
Dove Creek, Rico and Dolores scrapped fireworks as red flag conditions spread across Dolores County. Parades, food, music and other July 4 events will still go on.
Dove Creek, Rico and the Town of Dolores canceled Fourth of July fireworks as red flag fire danger tightened across Dolores County and the wider Western Slope.
The Dolores County Sheriff’s Office canceled a planned meat pit and fireworks display because of current red flag conditions and the heightened risk of wildfire. Dry vegetation, low humidity and strong winds made fireworks unsafe when even a single spark could start a fast-moving blaze.
Gov. Jared Polis declared a statewide drought emergency on June 4 and activated Phase 3 of Colorado’s Drought Response Plan. All 64 counties were at least abnormally dry and nearly 93% of the state was in moderate to exceptional drought. Colorado Water Conservation Board runoff forecasts for May 1 pointed to just 21% to 37% of median across Colorado basins, and Colorado Water Conservation Board data show the water year that began in October 2025 was the warmest on record in Colorado.
National Weather Service Red Flag Warnings covered Colorado on July 2 and July 3, with gusty winds and very low humidity creating conditions favorable to rapid fire spread. Montezuma County’s website listed fire danger as currently extreme and Stage 2 restrictions in unincorporated Dolores County effective June 19, along with a burn ban in the Town of Dolores. The San Juan National Forest entered Stage 2 restrictions forest-wide on July 1, and the Town of Dove Creek began Stage 2 restrictions July 1 at 12:01 a.m.
The Rico Fire Protection District canceled its fireworks show because of extreme fire conditions, but its parade, food line, duck race and other activities will continue. The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe canceled its fireworks show, and Ute Mountain Casino Hotel canceled its July 3 and July 4 fireworks display for fire safety reasons while food, live music, games and other activities remained on the schedule.
Cortez and Bayfield were still planning to proceed unless conditions changed. In Dolores County, games, bike rides, live music, parades and readings of the Declaration of Independence remained on the schedule.
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