Commissioners deny sale of fireworks for Texas Independence Day

During its Jan. 24 meeting, the Ellis County Commissioners Court denied the sale of fireworks for Texas Independence Day, March 2, on a 3-2 vote.

Little said he placed the item on the agenda because of a Feb. 14 deadline for adoption and because he wanted commissioners to have time to work through any regulations they would want to include. If the item had been approved, an order would have been drafted and voted on during the commissioners’ Feb. 7 meeting.

The court could have included regulations to prohibit the sale of “skyrockets with sticks” and “missiles with fins.” In the event of drought conditions, the sale of fireworks would not have been allowed, even with the adoption of an order. “It’s Texas Independence Day, folks,” Perry said. “We’re celebrating a victory, a military victory.”

Perry said he doesn’t have an issue with the sale of fireworks as long as there are regulations about the types and for preventing potential fire hazards.

“I’m in no way in favor of this,” fire marshal Tim Birdwell said. “We’ve got July 4, and we’ve got New Year’s Eve. Our fire departments are taxed beyond reasonable doubt as far as gasoline prices, diesel prices going up. …We’re out there as fire marshals answering calls, mostly nuisance calls.”

Birdwell said many of the county’s fire departments and volunteer fire departments had expressed their opposition for approving the sale of fireworks. He explained how his office gets calls from June 15 to July 15 with fireworks complaints.

“Have we become so risk-averse that we cannot enjoy the liberties we have been given?” Perry asked. “As long as the weather is not so dry that it’s not likely to cause a fire … . I think we can modify the order where we’re not allowing a lot of the aerial fireworks, so I don’t think it’s the end of the world.”

Birdwell felt allowing the fireworks would bring unwanted injuries, possible fires and burden the local and volunteer first responders. “I don’t think it’s our job to tell everyone how to enjoy themselves, even if they’re taking some risks,” Perry said.

“We don’t need it,” Birdwell said. “There’s going to be kids get injured. There’s going to be people get injured.”

Since they had no “significant ask” from fireworks sellers, Commissioner Lane Grayson said he felt there was no reason to approve the order, considering the “thin resources.” Commissioner Randy Stinson reminded the court that most of the county’s first responders are volunteers.

“When the fireworks season is going on, most of them are not with their families,” Stinson said. “They’re out volunteering their time to put out fires.”

“If we’re trying to listen to the best fit for the citizens of the county, why not listen to the safety, first responders of the county?” Commissioner Kyle Butler asked.

Birdwell said if he could, he’d outlaw fireworks in the whole county.

Grayson, Stinson and Butler voted in favor of denying the sale of fireworks for Texas Independence Day, with Perry and Little voting against the denial.

Little stated he voted against the denial because he felt they should have waited until the next meeting, once the order had been drafted, to make their final decision. Originally published February 6, 2023 - https://www.waxahachiesun.com/business/commissioners-deny-sale-of-fireworks-for-texas-independence-day/article_7318870c-a69b-11ed-a915-abd7c7fc229d.html