Governor Greg Abbott approved Hill County’s request to restrict fireworks last week after the commissioners court extended the county’s burn ban.
Hill County Judge Shane Brassell wrote the governor Tuesday, September 1, asking him to extend a fireworks ban that was passed by commissioners that day in conjunction with a disaster declaration and burn ban. The county took the action due to a recent outbreak of wildfires.
The court only had the authority to implement a 60-hour fireworks ban without the governor’s approval. With the Labor Day holiday weekend coming up, Brassell asked the governor to extend the ban.
Abbott approved the request Thursday night, September 4, and certain fireworks will be prohibited in unincorporated areas of the county until Monday, September 17, at 10 p.m.
They include bottle rockets and other skyrockets with sticks; missiles with fins; ground blooms; and other similar fireworks that, because of their design, operation, sparks, flame or movement, present an extraordinary risk of igniting dry grass, vegetation or other combustible material.
Hill County’s burn ban will remain in effect until October 31 unless commissioners or the county judge rescind it sooner.
The county’s burn ban restricts any burning of combustible materials in the unincorporated areas of the county. That includes, but is not limited to, the burning of brush and trash, campfires and other open fires, and fires contained in a barrel, pit or other container.
Outdoor cooking is allowed as long as it involves an attended grill, barbecue pit, smoker or outdoor cooking stove being used solely to prepare food.
Welding, cutting, grinding and similar heat-producing work can only be done with adequate fire suppression equipment and personnel present at the worksite. At a minimum, workers must have an appropriate fire extinguisher within 30 feet and a fire monitor.
See the county website at http://www.co.hill.tx.us to read the full order.
The Lakelander 