(Riverton, WY) – The Riverton City Council reversed course Tuesday night and voted 4-3 to ban consumer fireworks within city limits on July 4, following more than an hour of discussion and public comment from residents, volunteer organizations, and public safety officials. The meeting came just one day after council members had amended an earlier resolution to restrict fireworks to designated areas at the Honeycutt softball fields and Saban Baseball Complex.
Much of the public comment centered on opposition to using the ball fields as a designated fireworks location, with members of Riverton Little League and the Riverton Adult Softball Association saying the proposal had been made without consulting the volunteer organizations that maintain the facilities. Commenters warned that fireworks posed risks to both property and ongoing summer programs, including upcoming tournaments.
Little League President Elizabeth Kummer thanked the council for reconsidering the issue but urged members to protect the complex. “We all want our community to celebrate Independence Day… We simply ask that our ball fields not be the location for consumer fireworks,” she said, noting the league’s liability concerns, the potential for damaged facilities, and the volunteer hours that go into maintaining the fields.
Other league representatives echoed those concerns. Treasurer Amber Franks said volunteers spend thousands of dollars annually on field maintenance and worried that damage from fireworks could jeopardize facilities still needed for All-Star baseball tournaments. Field manager Zach Vogel told council members, “I feel very disrespected by this council… the volunteers that make those softball and Little League fields possible weren’t even considered part of the plan.” Coaches and volunteers also pointed to past vandalism and questioned who would bear responsibility if fireworks damaged batting cages, dugouts, scoreboards, or fencing.
Adult Softball Association representatives also opposed the decision, citing both fire danger and the burden placed on volunteers. Heidi Haines, who shared that she has been “involved with firefighting (her) entire life,” stated she was in favor of a complete ban. She called allowing fireworks under current conditions “extremely reckless,” pointing to low humidity, dry fuels, and limited firefighting resources.
Public comments extended beyond the ball fields. Residents raised concerns about fireworks’ effects on pets, veterans with PTSD, and neighborhood safety. Former Mayor Ron Warpness urged the city to avoid allowing large aerial fireworks in residential neighborhoods, saying the explosions had become overwhelming. Amy Mace Farnham, a professional pet sitter, asked the council to consider the impact on animals housed at the PAWS animal shelter, noting the proximity of the ball fields to the shelter, and that the animals at the facility will be left unattended during the hours where fireworks would have been allowed.
Not everyone favored a ban. Several residents argued that prohibiting fireworks could push people to Lander and Shoshoni, increasing the likelihood of impaired driving and making enforcement difficult. Commercial pilot Kylar Bennett cited national statistics related to DUI crashes and wildfire data while arguing that people celebrating in irrigated city neighborhoods may actually present less fire risk than those traveling outside city limits. Fireworks vendor Jacob Tyra similarly argued that responsible homeowners could safely celebrate and continue community tradition.
Riverton Fire Chief Jesse Cassity said the department’s recommendation remained unchanged and that fireworks should be banned this year because of exceptionally dry conditions. He explained that moisture levels in local vegetation are already comparable to what firefighters normally see much later in the summer, and warned that Riverton’s proximity to cottonwood river bottoms creates a greater wildland-urban interface risk than places like Lander or Shoshoni. After inspecting the Honeycutt complex, Cassity said it could safely accommodate only a handful of families and was not suitable for large numbers of people setting off consumer fireworks.
Several council members apologized for proposing the Honeycutt complex as a compromise location without consulting the Little League and softball representatives. Councilwoman Karen Johnson accepted responsibility for suggesting the site, telling Little League representatives, “I accept responsibility… and please accept my apology.” She said additional information convinced her the ball fields were not an appropriate location. Councilwoman Karla Borders also apologized, saying the council had been attempting to find a compromise but had not fully considered the impacts on volunteers.
The council remained divided over whether fireworks should be banned citywide. Mayor Tim Hancock argued that allowing fireworks inside Riverton could keep people from traveling to neighboring communities and reduce the temptation to use fireworks in more hazardous rural areas. Other council members countered that supporting the fire department’s recommendation outweighed those concerns, given this year’s drought conditions and elevated wildfire risk.
“Every meeting we have, we thank, and we pray for our fire department, our police department, our first responders, every meeting, without fail,” Councilman Eric Carr said during the discussion. “They’re here imploring us not to have fireworks, just this year. Let’s answer their prayers. Let’s just get it done.”
Following the lengthy discussion, the council approved Resolution 1560 by a 4-3 vote, prohibiting all consumer fireworks within Riverton city limits on July 4, with Rebecca Brothers, Eric Carr, Karla Borders, and Mike Bailey voting in favor of the resolution/ban, and Karen Johnson, Kyle Larson, and Mayor Hancock voting against the ban.
The City issued the following release on Wednesday night after the special meeting.
During a special meeting held on July 1, 2026, the Riverton City Council adopted Resolution No. 1560, amending its previous action and prohibiting the discharge and use of all consumer fireworks within the corporate limits of the City of Riverton on July 4, 2026.
Resolution No. 1560 modifies Resolution No. 1559, which had authorized the use of consumer fireworks at a single designated location within the city. With the adoption of the new resolution, that exception has been removed, and consumer fireworks are now prohibited throughout the City of Riverton for the entirety of July 4th.
The Council took the action in response to continued drought conditions, low humidity, and elevated fire danger affecting the Riverton area. The restriction is intended to reduce the risk of wildfire and protect public safety, property, and natural resources during the Independence Day holiday.
The Riverton Fire Department has consistently advised that current drought conditions, low humidity, and dry vegetation present an elevated wildfire risk and recommended that consumer fireworks not be discharged within the city.
The City of Riverton appreciates the cooperation of residents and visitors in helping protect the community during this period of elevated fire danger and wishes everyone a safe and enjoyable Independence Day.
The meeting can be viewed in full here.