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Drought Won't Stop Fireworks In Dry Western States

Billy Wilson Photography via Flickr

Arizona's largest city has gone months without any measurable rain, and neighboring New Mexico is in the midst of four years of severe drought.

But you'll still see and hear fireworks sparkle and pop this Fourth of July, despite the dangerously high threat of wildfires.

While some places in the West ban fireworks or greatly limit what you can light up, other states are going in the opposite direction.

Arizona loosened its restrictions this year and is now allowing residents of the two most populated cities to set off fireworks around Independence Day.

And an effort by the New Mexico governor to impose tougher rules during dry times has repeatedly fallen on deaf ears in the Legislature.

Some lawmakers chalk it up to politics, saying more needs to be done to protect communities.

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