The Fort Worth fire chief sent a letter to the Tarrant County fire marshal earlier this month, asking him to curtail the sale and use of fireworks amid dry conditions.
In his letter dated June 2nd, Fire Chief Jim Davis is asking three things of Fire Marshal Randy Renois when it comes to the unincorporated areas of the county:
1. Support the prohibition of firework sales in Tarrant County.
2. Support the request of the Commissioner's Court to reinstate the burn ban effective immediately in
Tarrant County.
3. Support the request of the County Judge to make a disaster declaration for Tarrant County to prevent
the use of fireworks.
Craig Trojacek with Fort Worth Fire says this has already been a very busy year for outdoor fires within the City of Fort Worth.
"Since April 1st of this year, we've responded to over 385 grass and brush fires already," Trojacek said.
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Renois says the burn ban was lifted on June 4th, two days after the letter was drafted and four days before he received it, but it will likely be reinstated.
"This coming Tuesday at Commissioner's Court, we're going to ask to put the burn ban back on because we haven't gotten any rain since then," Renois said.
But Renois says in Tarrant County, a burn ban will not prohibit the use of fireworks (laws in other counties may differ).
And while the judge can make a disaster declaration, that would only last a limited amount of time.
"He can only do it and it lasts 60 hours," Renois said, "and then he has to go and ask the governor to extend those 60 hours."
The possession and use of consumer-grade fireworks are only legal in the unincorporated areas of Tarrant County; they're illegal within the city limits of all incorporated cities.
"What we're wanting to do ultimately is have all the people that are coming into town and the folks that live here in town to go and see professional shows that are put on that are scattered throughout our city," Trojacek said.
Renois says while he's powerless in preventing the sale or use of fireworks in the unincorporated areas, he too is recommending that people see a professional fireworks show and not pop off their own fireworks.
"They're free, they're lots of fun, (and) they're really cool shows as far as fireworks," Renois said, "and (they should) save their money because money's tight now."
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