Booming fireworks echoing off canyon walls got the attention of residents on Thursday, Sept. 11.
Witnesses reported more than an hour of loud booms, accompanied by a skyward fireworks show on the east end of Dolores.
"We responded and found an individual shooting of fireworks he had bought in another state," said Montezuma County Undersheriff Lynda Carter. "Deputies instructed that he destroy them or be cited, so they were destroyed on site."
In Colorado, fireworks intended to leave the ground, explode, or fly are illegal. Banned fireworks include firecrackers, rockets, Roman candles, M-80s and mortars. The exception is for licensed, professionals permitted by fire officials during Fourth of July celebrations.
Unless there's a fire ban, Montezuma County allows use of small fireworks such as sparklers or fountains, Carter said.
"The sonic booms they create are also a public nuisance under the law," she said. "We were flooded with calls that night."
The ruckus alarmed the community, frightened pets, and cut short the Re-1 school board meeting.
Dolores Schools Superintendent Scott Cooper said the firework booms set off school alarms.
"When the alarms go off, all of our phones started ringing, so we had to end the meeting to go check things out," Cooper said.
A boom earlier in the evening disrupted the meeting when smoke wafted into the board room and one board member thought something might be on fire.
The name of the offender was not released.