PARIS — Selectmen have charged the town’s Policy and Procedures Committee to draft an ordinance to restrict fireworks use on days with moderate to extreme fire danger.

Board members agreed that preventing forest fires was a priority, but some were not convinced the town needed additional fireworks regulation.

During Monday’s board meeting, Vice-Chair Bob Kirchherr told other members of the board he believed the town ought to be able to regulate the use of fireworks when fire danger was extreme or even moderate, as determined by the National Fire Danger Rating System.

“I think we have an issue with forest fire danger,” Kirchherr told fellow board members. “The only way to get to that is to have an ordinance that deals with it.”

Kirhchherr also suggested the town should consider a reasonable way to deal with fireworks noise.

Other board members voiced skepticism with additional fireworks regulation beyond fire protection.

Selectman Gerald Kilgore stated his objection to more restrictions, but acknowledged fire danger could be an issue.

“I hate to put an ordinance on everything we do, but I don’t want my place to burn down either,” he said.

Board Chair Sam Elliot suggested a one-line ordinance regulating fireworks use on fire danger days, but did not think the board had enough information on the problem to develop more comprehensive regulation.

Elliot said that, considering the town had only been through one season of fireworks and hadn’t even seen what use would be like during New Year’s celebrations, it was too early to begin considering comprehensive restrictions.

Town Clerk Elizabeth Knox told the board members that ordinances were typically voted on during the June elections.

Considering the time needed to schedule public hearings and solicit input from residents, it was better to start the process sooner rather than later, she said.

The board voted 4-1 to support the development of a fireworks ordinance and 4-1 to charge the Policy and Procedures Committee to consult Fire Chief Brad Frost and design an ordinance that would restrict fireworks use during days with high-fire danger rankings.

Selectman Ryan Lorrain voted against both motions.