Gallup extends extreme drought proclamation as Fourth of July nears

The 30-day proclamation approved May 26 remained in place as the Fourth of July rush approached, leaving local fireworks limits tied to worsening fire danger across McKinley County. It was due to expire around June 26 unless the City Council acted again, and city rules allow restrictions on the possession, use and sale of fireworks when state drought conditions exist.

Fire Chief Jon Pairett first asked the council on May 26 to approve a proclamation declaring extreme or severe drought conditions. He returned June 9 with an update and asked for an extension after local conditions worsened quickly. Under Gallup Municipal Code 4-6-8, safe and sane fireworks can be sold and displayed by non-wholesalers and jobbers only from June 20 through July 6 when no drought restriction is in effect.

New Mexico’s Fireworks Licensing and Safety Act requires any restrictive proclamation to be issued at least 20 days before a holiday fireworks sale. A drought proclamation generally lasts 30 days and may be followed by succeeding proclamations if extreme or severe drought conditions warrant.

Comparing U.S. Drought Monitor data from May 14 with the May 28 update, Pairett said only a small part of McKinley County had been in extreme drought in the earlier report, while most of the county had been in severe drought. By the later report, extreme drought had spread across a majority of the county.

Pairett briefed council on March 24 in preparation for the fireworks season, and in 2025 the council approved a proclamation by May 30 that banned or limited certain fireworks. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Lt. Gov. Howie Morales have also urged local governments to consider fireworks bans when drought and fire conditions intensify.