The City of Hobbs is currently experiencing an “extreme and severe” drought, and the danger of wildfire is at an all-time high. At their Monday, May 16 meeting, Hobbs City Commissioners discussed this danger and took specific action to mitigate the possibility of such fires breaking out as a result of the use of certain fireworks within the city limits.

City Commissioners adopted a resolution “to prohibit the use of certain fireworks due to extreme and severe drought conditions in the area of Hobbs,” states a Thursday, May 26, press release (PDF) from the office of City of Hobbs Communications Director Meghan Mooney. The resolution was proposed by Barry Young, Chief of the Hobbs Fire Department.

The resolution is an outgrowth of a request made by New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham on Tuesday, April 26. Mooney states in the press release that the governor asked, “New Mexican municipalities and counties to ban the retail sale of fireworks in their jurisdictions, with Lea, Eddy, Chavez, and Roosevelt counties of Southeast New Mexico doing so.” The governor’s request evolved from the fact that some 400,000 acres, being over 50 miles of land, have already burned in New Mexico this year.

Drought Conditions Extreme

“While our community is no stranger to drought, the majority of Lea County is in a state of Exceptional Drought per the National Drought Mitigation Center, as well as over 70% of our state and our bordering counties in Texas being in Extreme to Exceptional Drought,” states the press release.

The National Weather Service reports that 100% of the people in Lea County are affected by the current drought and that April was the county’s driest month on record. This year is proving the seventh driest year the county has experienced in 128 years.

According to the press release, the drought is causing:

• Exceptional levels of crop loss and loss of field planting, as well as dead rangeland
• Significant financial loss to the agriculture, seafood, forestry and tourism sectors
• “Extreme sensitivity to fire danger” and the implementation of fireworks restrictions

Prohibited Fireworks 

Fireworks currently prohibited by City of Hobbs Municipal Code Ordinance, Chapter 8.12, are:

• Aerial shell kit-reloadable tubes
• Aerial spinners
• Chasers
• Firecrackers
• Helicopters
• Mines
• Missile type rockets
• Stick-type rockets
• Roman candles (able to shoot balls of flames 50-60 plus feet in the air)
• Shells

The Ordinance prohibits vendors from selling these items within the Hobbs City Limits. Further, “no person will be allowed to light them,” states the press release.

The press release further notifies the public that “these restrictions are subject to change based upon weather conditions.”

Fourth of July Message from Fire Chief Young

“While the City of Hobbs wishes to celebrate our nation’s Independence Day, there are certain precautions needed to protect life and property,” states Chief Young. 

Residents living in rural areas of the Hobbs community are at very high risk of wildfire unless proper precautions are taken. “It is critical we mitigate the potential of wildfires as much as possible,” states Chief Young. “We hope to educate those we serve on the need for this restriction and to encourage them to help keep our community safe.”

City of Hobbs July Fourth Celebration

Hobbs Fourth of July Fireworks Show is scheduled for Friday, July 1. According to the press release, the show may be canceled as a result of the drought. “If it is held, it will be conducted by trained and certified professionals and with the City of Hobbs Fire Marshal’s Office present.”

Regular updates about the status of the Fourth of July Fireworks Show will be provided by the City of Hobbs and by the Hobbs Fire Department.