07/04/2026
🇺🇸 Fourth of July Reminder: Level 2 Fire Restrictions Remain in Effect 🔥
As we approach the Fourth of July holiday and continue through the summer season, the Village of Ruidoso remains under Level 2 Fire Restrictions. We ask everyone to do their part to help protect our community.
Under Level 2 Fire Restrictions, the following are PROHIBITED:
🚭 Smoking outside
🔥 Campfires
🎆 Fireworks
🥩 Charcoal grills (gas and pellet grills are permitted)
🛠️ Welding without a permit
⚠️ All permits for recreational burning devices are currently void until restrictions return to Level 1.
Please note that citations will be issued. There will be no warnings and no exceptions.
Thank you for your cooperation, and have a safe and happy Fourth of July!
Ruidoso Police Department
See Municipal Codes Below.
Sec. 42-35. - Fire restrictions.
The fire chief has the authority to set restrictions on outdoor fire pits, outdoor cooking devices, outdoor smoking, fire used as it pertains to one's profession (such as welding) special use fires and all other uses of fire which could result in a wildland fire event. These restrictions are based on fire potential as it relates to fuel moisture, wind, and daily temperatures. The restrictions are generally as follows, but can be amended by the fire chief:
(1) a.
(2) Level II.
a. All the restrictions of level I.
b. Any cooking or recreational device that uses charcoal or wood is not allowed.
c. Gas and pellet cooking devices are allowed but must be attended at all time.
d. Campfires and any unpermitted recreational fire devices are not allowed.
e. Outdoor smoking is not allowed on public or private property unless the area has been specifically permitted by the fire code official.
f. Operating small internal combustion engine equipment is allowed so long as it is equipped with a spark arresting device.
g. Open fires conducted in the pursuit of one's profession (welding, hot tar roofing, driveway sealing, etc.) are allow by permit only.
h. All issued fire permits for recreational fire devices are void.
i. Ignition and or detonation of fireworks is prohibited.
Sec. 58-38. - Possession of fireworks.
(a) It shall be unlawful to possess fireworks.
(b)Possession of fireworks consists of either selling, offering to sell, owning, possessing, manufacturing, transporting or discharging any firecracker, Roman candle, skyrocket, torpedo, bomb or blank cartridge (except when used in connection with athletic or racing activities), or any type or form of explosive commonly known as "fireworks," unless such item has been declared by the fire chief as not dangerous to persons or property.
(c) Nothing contained in this section shall be held to prevent such activities as may be authorized by compliance with the provisions of the fire code.
(d) As used in this section, the term "fireworks" shall not include toy pistols, toy cannons, toy guns or other devices in which paper caps containing 25/100 grains or less of explosive compound are used, providing they are so constructed that the hand cannot come in contact with the cap when in place for use, or toy pistol paper caps which contain less than 20/100 grains of explosive mixture, the sale and use of which shall be permitted at all times.
(e) Safe and sane devices as approved by the fire chief shall be those devices listed as approved for sale by the fire chief. Any device which propels any portion, part or projectile more than ten feet in the air or has a report louder than the paper caps described in subsection (d) of this section is not considered safe and sane.
(f) Nothing contained in this section shall be held to apply to or prohibit any employee of the state game and fish department or the United States Fish and Wildlife Service from possessing fireworks for control of game birds and animals or to prohibit the village or any civic organization therein from sponsoring and conducting, in connection with any public celebration, an officially supervised and controlled fireworks display.
