posted July 2 -

Bee County has had some rain in the last two weeks but that does not mean it will be safe to shoot off fireworks without thinking about fire safety this Independence Day.

Assistant Fire Chief Bill Burris reminded everyone that Bee County still has a ban on aerial fireworks in effect. That means most rocket-type fireworks will not be sold or allowed to be used this year.

Even with the recent rain, Burris said, there is still plenty of dried grass and brush out in the fields. Also, one stray spark in some farmer’s corn or grain sorghum field could result in an economic disaster for the person who has invested tens of thousands of dollars in this year’s crop.

Burris said he would prefer it if people simply avoided using fireworks during the July 4 holiday this year.

“We hate them,” Burris said, speaking for himself and his fellow firemen.

But he is a realist and he knows lots of kids, old and young, will want to be out there setting off the big bangs.

Burris recommends that people who must use fireworks take them to a safe place outside of town. Make sure there is no dry grass or other vegetation in the area that could be ignited by a stray spark. Have a source of water handy, preferably a steady source connected to a long garden hose.

If a garden hose is not available, at least have several buckets of water and some wet burlap bags within reach to douse any flames that might occur in the grass or brush.

But Burris said an even better idea would be to leave the fireworks to the professionals this year.

“I know they’re having fireworks at the (Bee County) Exposition Center this year,” he said. Members of the Beeville Volunteer Fire Department and other area departments will have their tanker and pumper trucks at the center to make sure no fires are started around the property during the display.

The fireworks show is expected to start at about 9 p.m. or shortly afterward, depending on when it gets dark.

If people just can’t wait for the show at the Expo Center and they must use fireworks elsewhere, Burris urges people to not hesitate to call the fire department in the event a fire gets out of control. The sooner firemen can get to the scene, the less damage there will be.

Nobody wants to be standing there with fireworks in hand when someone’s home, barn or other property burns to the ground.