Two major grocery chains have pulled fireworks from shelves statewide, and protests in a Southern New Mexico city have led a vendor to shutter a fireworks stand amid fire danger.

Meanwhile, folks in San Ysidro are planning to protest sales at a fireworks stand there this weekend, and the town of Taos is postponing its fireworks display because of the state's extreme drought.

And a New Mexico Facebook group with almost 30,000 members is urging residents to boycott fireworks this summer.

All are signs of a growing movement against the popular pastime that many equate with freedom, summer and good times.

While Gov. Susana Martinez says she's done all she can to prohibit illegal fireworks use, some say the state must do more to prevent as many fires as possible ahead of and during the Fourth of July holiday.

Martinez on Wednesday declared a state of emergency in New Mexico because of the fire hazard and again urged residents not to use fireworks.

"The conditions in New Mexico are simply too dangerous for anyone to buy, sell or use fireworks this summer," Martinez said in a statement.

The declaration orders more police officers on the streets to enforce statewide and local bans.

Already, the state has banned fireworks in all wildland areas, which include nonmunicipal, nonfederal and nontribal lands. Many cities and counties have their own bans for private use, but those bans generally are limited to the largest types of fireworks.

Although many constituents have called Martinez's office and urged her to ban fireworks by executive order, she does not have the power to do so. Instead, the Legislature would have to consider that matter, something it could do this fall in a special session.

"The governor certainly would support legislation allowing for the enactment of more comprehensive bans at the state and local level on the sale and use of fireworks during times of dry and difficult conditions like we are facing this summer; she plans to make it an item that is addressed in the upcoming special session," spokesman Scott Darnell said.

However, more immediate steps are being taken.

Smith's and Albertsons stores said Wednesday that they will take fireworks off shelves in New Mexico.

A statement from Smith's said the decision was for the "good of public safety and to stem customer concerns."

"Smith's will not sell any fireworks or novelties for the 4th of July holiday," the company said in a news release. "Smith's apologizes for any inconvenience this may provide to their customers."

As those big shops are removing fireworks, at least one outdoor fireworks tent has shut down.

In Silver City, TNT Fireworks disbanded its stand outside of a Walmart after community pressure, the Silver City Sun-News reported.

Instead of using fireworks at home, officials are urging residents to attend organized events. Santa Fe and Albuquerque still plan their events, as do several state parks. But in Taos, the fireworks will occur July 21, depending on the weather, officials said.

Even though fire conditions may improve before the next legislative session, lawmakers still want to take up the topic.

Rep. Brian Egolf, D-Santa Fe, said he would like to see more dialogue with the state's pueblos, which he said are a source of fireworks that many cities have banned.

"Even if the state were to snap our fingers and ban them right now, people would still get them at pueblos," he said.

Sen. Carlos Cisneros, D-Questa, said in a release Wednesday that the state "must and will consider more effective ways to prohibit or restrict the use of fireworks, as well as make special funding and technical assistance available to help communities prevent, respond to and recover from future disasters."

And Sen. Dede Feldman, D-Albuquerque, who in the past has sponsored legislation that would give the governor broader banning authority, said she will consider the topic but hopes lawmakers take it up in the regular session, not the gathering this fall on redistricting.

Not all legislators are ready to enact more restrictions, however.

House Minority Leader Tom Taylor, R-Farmington, said he thinks each city has the right to control fireworks in its area and that a statewide ban isn't the way to go.

"You can only do so much. You finally get to the point where you use common sense," Taylor said. "I'm tired of regulating everything in the world."

Contact Kate Nash at 986-3036 or knash@sfnewmexican.com. Read her blog at www.greenchilechatter.com.

Visit http://tinyurl.com/3grw7ft for more photos of the Las Conchas Fire.