Williamson County residents are encouraged to play it safe with holiday fireworks, as December and January weather conditions could increase the threat of fires and spreading flames.
While the county remains under a burn ban enacted on Dec. 4 by the county Commissioners Court, state law dictates the region's soil is not dry enough to ban fireworks. According to Jarred Thomas, Williamson County Emergency Management specialist, under the Keetch-Byram Drought Index, fireworks cannot be banned unless soil dryness is rated at 575 or higher. As of Dec. 11, the county is at 564.
Despite being unable to completely ban fireworks, the commissioners decided during their Dec. 11 meeting to work with fireworks vendors to spread the word on fire and firework safety. The Texas Pyrotechnic Association has voluntarily decided not to sell missiles with fins and sky rockets with sticks, as they pose the greatest fire danger.
The county is also advocating the following precautions when using fireworks this holiday season:
Obey all local fireworks laws. Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them.
Don't buy fireworks in brown paper packaging, they may have been made for professional displays and are dangerous to consumers.
Always have a water hose, bucket of water, wet towels, or fire extinguisher nearby.
Do not hold lit fireworks, other than sparklers.
Never throw fireworks at another person, animal or vehicle.
Never shoot fireworks from metal or glass containers. The container may shatter, causing serious injury or death.
Always stand at least 6 feet from another person while using sparklers or other fireworks.
The embers from sparklers are very hot and will burn the skin and fabrics.
Sparklers burn at a temperature near 2,000 degrees, and the wire and sticks of sparklers will stay hot long after the sparkler has gone out. Never toss sparklers on the ground. They may catch dry grass and leaves on fire. Put spent sparklers directly in a bucket of water.
Never hold or light more than one sparkler at a time or hand a lighted sparkler to another person.
Never experiment with, modify, combine, or create your own fireworks. Never try to re-light a firework that did not function
Put spent fireworks into a bucket of water or sand to put them completely out.
When finished, clean up all fireworks debris.
Fireworks and children
Never allow young children to play with or light fireworks.
Children should never be left unattended around fireworks, matches, or lighters.
Many fireworks have age information printed on the packaging, similar to toys. Purchase and use only age-appropriate fireworks for your children.
Children younger than 12 should not use sparklers or any other fireworks without very close adult supervision.
Never hold a child in your arms while using sparklers.
Teach children not to wave sparklers, especially wooden stick sparklers, or run while holding sparklers.
