By Commissioner Jackie Butler
The Fourth of July is a special time in El Paso County. It’s when families come together to celebrate freedom with food, music, fireworks and community. But for some neighborhoods, especially in our unincorporated areas, this holiday can also bring fear, disruption and real danger.
Each year, areas such as Red Sands and Montana Vista experience large gatherings, off-road traffic, fireworks and, unfortunately, serious accidents. We’ve seen lives lost, emergency services overwhelmed, and neighborhoods left with piles of trash and debris.
For residents who live in these areas year-round, it can feel like the celebration comes at their expense.
I’m not here to take away anyone’s traditions. I believe in celebrating — safely, respectfully and with consideration for the communities where these celebrations take place.
Fireworks might seem harmless, but when used recklessly, they can cause serious burns and injuries. Add in drinking, ATVs, guns and large crowds, and the chances of something going wrong increase significantly. Meanwhile, neighbors wake up to spent fireworks, broken glass, and debris scattered across their streets and yards.
So, if you’re heading out to celebrate this year, I’m asking for a little extra care:
- Keep fireworks away from homes, vehicles and crowds. Always have water nearby and clean up afterward.
- Be mindful of noise and time of night. Not everyone enjoys loud explosions, especially veterans, children and pets.
- Don’t treat our neighborhoods like dumping grounds. Take your trash with you.
- Off-road responsibly. Alcohol and ATVs don’t mix, and Red Sands is already a high-risk area.
Fireworks vendors are also a huge part of the solution. We have to work together to promote safety, educate customers and discourage use in places where the risks are too high.
And to our first responders — the deputies, firefighters and EMTs who spend their holidays protecting us — thank you. Your work is often unseen and underappreciated, but it doesn’t go unnoticed.
This Fourth of July, let’s make room for both celebration and responsibility. Let’s celebrate with joy and with respect for the communities that welcome us.
Jackie Butler is county commissioner for Precinct 1.
The post Opinion: Let’s celebrate the Fourth with joy and respect appeared first on El Paso Matters.
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