Burn ban back, fireworks limited due to drought

The burn ban is back on and with it comes restrictions on fireworks during the upcoming holiday weekend.

It is no surprise to anyone who has walked outside of the last few weeks during this record-breaking heat wave.

“The green grass, they tell me, is a false grass,” Wimberley Fire Chief Carroll Czichos said. “Everything underneath it is dry, so right now we are in a bad situation. What makes it even worse is the heat index. If we were to have a fire with the heat index as high as it is, that really puts a toll on firefighters. We are used to it, but trying to fight a grass fire at that temperature is tough.”

Those anecdotal signs of dryness are backed up by the Keetch-Byram Drought Index, which is based on a daily water balance, where a drought factor is balanced with precipitation and soil moisture.

The KBDI is in the 600 to 700 range across almost all of Hays County, which is the second driest level on the chart. The KBDI average in Hays County is 641.07 this week. A drought index of 0 represents no moisture depletion, and an index of 800 represents absolutely dry conditions.

The dryness is just another reason to be careful with fireworks this Fourth of July holiday season.

Fireworks are banned for sale or use in both the cities of Wimberley and Woodcreek. The only exceptions are for special events that obtain a permit. Hays County has instituted the “sticks and fins” ban throughout the rest of the county. This prohibits the sale or use of “skyrockets with sticks” and “missiles with fins.”

“To me, sticks and fins don’t do a whole lot,” Czichos said. “Anything that goes up nowadays usually burns out before it hits the ground. The only reason they do these sticks and fins is those big bottle rockets, if shot off at an angle, they can go 150 yards away from you and land and you can’t see what is happening to them. Stuff like roman candles or the things that bounce on the ground, those start just as many fires as anything. The arterial shells, those are great. You very seldom have any problem with those. We have more problems with stuff that stays on the ground than the stuff that goes up.”

Czichos suggested that anyone lighting fireworks have water on hand to douse any potential flames. Also, being on a concrete or asphalt surface can help limit fire potential.

“Be cautious,” Czichos said. “If you are shooting fireworks, gather them all up and put them in a metal container… Have a hose or bucket of water on hand.”

Fireworks Safety Tips

• Buy from reputable fireworks vendors; never try to make your own fireworks.

• Read and follow label directions, warnings, and safety instructions.

• Always have an adult supervise fireworks activities. Keep children and pets away.

• Young children can suffer injuries from sparklers, which burn at about 2,000 degrees – hot enough to melt some metals.

• Never place any part of your body over the fireworks when lighting the fuse. Back up to a safe distance after the fuse is lit.

• Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not fully ignited.

• Never point or throw fireworks at another person, an animal, or a vehicle.

• Keep a bucket of water or garden hose handy in case of fire.

• Light fireworks one at a time, then move back quickly. Never twist fuses together to set off more than one at a time.

• Never carry fireworks in your pockets or set them off in a metal or glass container.

• After fireworks have finished burning, douse them with water from a container or garden hose to avoid a trash fire.

• Eye and hearing protection is strongly recommended.

• Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them.

• Fireworks are not allowed in Hays County parks. The sale or pos session of fireworks are banned in most incorporated cities in Hays County.

• If you live in an area where fireworks are used, make sure your pets have identification or keep them indoors. Be extra watchful for persons near roadways who might be setting off fireworks after dark.