Thursday, March 28, 2024

Fireworks use banned countywide; exception made for municipal displays

Posted

Despite a little rain falling on Coryell County the day before their meeting, Coryell County Commissioners voted to prohibit the use of fireworks in the county with the exception of professional municipal displays such as the one in Gatesville.

While it will be illegal to discharge fireworks in Coryell County, they can still be sold. County Judge Roger Miller said June 15 was the cutoff date to restrict firework sales, and the county did not meet certain criteria in the drought index to prohibit their sale at that time.

Miller said that since then, the drought level does meet the criteria and beyond that, a disaster declaration that the commissioners court approved in April related to wildfire dangers allows the commissioners to take this action.

"That disaster declaration is still in effect," Miller said. "It gives the county the ability to take action to limit, prohibit or modify the use of fireworks. Surrounding counties have also taken action. Bell County (which includes the Temple and Killeen areas) prohibits the sale or use of fireworks anywhere in the county. It would be reasonable to use that as a format."

Miller noted that seven of the eight volunteer fire departments in Coryell County have voiced their agreement with "prohibiting the use of any and all fireworks throughout the county at a consumer level. My recommendation to the court based on the April 12 disaster declaration is to prohibit the use of all fireworks in the county at the consumer level."

Miller said while it may sound like a contradiction, he does not believe the county at this point could restrict the sale of fireworks in Coryell County, just their use.

"People could purchase them but not (legally) be able to use them in Coryell County," he said.

Public fireworks displays conducted by a licensed professional vendor are not affected by the fireworks ban.

Jeff Coffee with the Texas Pyrotechnic Association, who is director of American Fireworks, suggested that the county only ban the sale and use of fireworks with sticks and fins.

However, Miller said there are other types of pyrotechnics that have a wide coverage range that do not have sticks and fins, such as Roman candles and mortar type fireworks, that are also a concern.

For people who are interested in fireworks on July 4, Miller said there are "a number of opportunities in the area for municipal public fireworks displays."

Gatesville Fire Chief Billy Vaden said any type of fireworks used beyond those professional city-sponsored displays will pose a danger to the county.

"If people pop any type of fireworks it can start a fire," Vaden said. He added that dry conditions already have volunteer firefighters scrambling to keep people and property safe.

"Our fuel bills are going out of sight," he said. "In responding to all these fires, we are spending $1,000 a week for fuel."

Vaden said he is concerned with the continuing sale of fireworks in the county.

"If people can buy them, some are going to use them," he said. "We have to come up with something that says that we're under a ban and fireworks use is dangerous. I understand free enterprise and that people have laid supplies (of fireworks to sell), and it's tough to eat that cost. But on the other hand, they should look at the weather. I don't believe we should allow the use of fireworks. Especially problematic are the mortar fireworks that are shot up in the air."

Vaden encouraged people who want to see fireworks to attend events such as the Gatesville fireworks display.

"We're going to be there to ensure it's a safe display," Vaden said.

Commissioner Ryan Basham said, "I've been getting a lot of phone calls from people concerned about fire danger" (combined with seasonal fireworks).

" I was hopeful that we would get more rain that would allow the safe use of fireworks but those hopes didn't come to fruition," Miller said. He added that county officials are obligated to protect the community, emergency service personnel responding to fires, and property owners.

County Attorney Brandon Belt said prohibiting fireworks use merely through the July 4 holiday didn't go far enough in protecting the community.

"If you ban them through the Fourth of July, it won't do much good if people shoot them off on July 10," he said. He added that the ban on fireworks use should continue as long as the county burn ban remains in effect.