Springfield Police Warn Against Illegal Fireworks as Baca County Faces Dangerous Drought Conditions

Description: The Springfield Police Department is urging residents to use only legal fireworks and celebrate responsibly as dry, hot, and windy conditions increase fire danger across Baca County. Chief Chris Griffin warns that illegal fireworks may be seized and that fireworks-related fires could lead to serious criminal charges...


Published: 06/29/2026
Byline: SECO News

We do not like having to make this post. We wish the conditions were different. There have been plenty of years where our approach to the 4th of July fireworks was more along the lines of, “Use common sense, be safe, and do what you are going to do.” Those are the years everyone likes. The grass is green, the beer is cold, the burgers are hot, and your lighter is ready. Unfortunately, this is not one of those years.

Baca County is dry. The attached drought graph is not speculative. It is real, and it is now. The conditions are worse than what we have seen the last few years. The forecast is also hot, dry, and windy, which is not exactly ideal weather for lighting things on fire, launching mortars into orbit, and hoping for the best. One bad decision can turn into a grass fire or structure fire very quickly, and once that happens, it is no longer just YOUR problem.
 
Last night was a perfect example of how not to do this. Fireworks were being set off in town at almost midnight, and some of them were definitely not legal fireworks. The 4th of July does not turn the entire week into a free for all, and it does not mean illegal fireworks suddenly become legal for the week either. Last time we consulted a calendar, the 4th of July is the 4th day of July. The 4th day of July is not the 3rd of July, and it is certainly not the 28th of June. We understand people are going to celebrate, but there is still such a thing as common courtesy, reasonable hours, and not acting like everyone else in town should have to deal with your party.
 
We are an agricultural community. Some people get a holiday weekend, but a lot of people do not. People still have to get up early for work, chores, livestock, irrigation, trucking, farming, ranching, and all the other things that do not stop because someone decided it was time for a late-night fireworks show. Late night illegal fireworks send a pretty clear message to your neighbors: “I do not care about your sleep, your kids, your animals, your job, your pasture, your property, or your safety. I care about what I want to do tonight.” That may not be what you meant, but that is exactly how it comes across.
 
And yes, we are aware that some people do it for those exact reasons. They know it bothers people. They know it scares animals. They know it is late. They know it is illegal. They just do it anyway.
 
At some point, it all stops being celebration and starts being plain selfish. Lighting off illegal fireworks after a few drinks is not usually impressive. With these conditions, and the fact that it is not even July yet, it is normally reckless, sometimes inconsiderate, and usually puts other people’s property at risk.
 
This is not about keeping people from celebrating the 4th of July. Celebrate it. Enjoy your family. Eat the burgers. Have a good time. Celebrate the liberties of this great country. Just do it responsibly and reasonably. These laws are in place because, whether we like to admit it or not, people do not always consider the likely outcomes of their actions, and fire does not care what anyone intended.
 
This is always a fine balance between safety, liberty, and trying to prevent something bad before it happens. We have seen it plenty of times in the past. We try to educate people, we try to explain the risk, and some people fly us the proverbial middle finger. We also understand that people do not usually like the government "telling" them what they can and cannot do, and somehow that frustration usually gets aimed at local officials and local officers. But this is state statute, folks. These are not rules we made up because we were bored and looking for a way to ruin someone’s weekend. The fun is always fun until someone you know gets hurt, killed, loses their home, loses a shop, loses livestock, or watches a pasture burn. Then the conversation changes pretty quickly to why law enforcement, fire, or local government did not do enough to prevent it. That is an impossible position to be in most of the time, but with the conditions we are facing this year, we are going to lean toward preventing the fire instead of explaining afterward why we did not say or do enough.
 
Colorado allows certain permissible fireworks. Generally speaking, that means smaller fireworks that stay on the ground, such as fountains, sparklers, ground spinners, snakes, glow worms, and similar items. Colorado does not allow aerial fireworks or audible ground devices, including firecrackers. If it flies, explodes, or sounds like your neighbor should be taking cover, there is a good chance it is not legal. Anyone under 16 cannot purchase fireworks, and anyone under 16 using permissible fireworks must be under actual adult supervision.
 
This year, with the drought, heat, wind, and risk to property, do not count on a warning for a fireworks related violation. Take your chances if you want, but understand what that means. If you are caught with illegal fireworks, the fireworks may be seized and you may be issued a summons to court.
 
If your fireworks start a fire, damage property, or put people, homes, buildings, livestock, or other property at risk, we are no longer just talking about a fireworks ticket. Colorado’s Fourth Degree Arson statute can apply when someone knowingly or recklessly starts a fire or causes an explosion that places another person in danger or places property at risk. In plain English, if your fireworks damage property or put people at risk, there is a significant chance you are going to jail. “I did not mean to” does not undo the damage after the fire starts. Reckless behavior is all it takes, folks.
 
Please use only legal fireworks. Please be reasonable with the dates and hours. Please watch your kids. Please keep water nearby. Please clean up your mess. Please think about your neighbors, their responsibilities, and their property. I know I said please quite a few times right there but I do really feel this is important.

Chief Chris Griffin



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