Possible burn ban for Taylor County ahead of Independence Day celebrations

TAYLOR COUNTY, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – Temperatures across the country continue to be in the triple digits, making for dry weather ahead of the Fourth of July holiday. Some fear that a ban on fires could come into force ahead of the festivities, which include fireworks.

Fireworks season kicked off on June 24 with the opening of several Independence Day stands. Caleb Smith, owner of BoomBah Fireworks, told KTAB/KRBC he has already seen more people looking forward to this season.

“The crowd here is better, and this is only the second day, but we’ve had a good, good turnout so far,” Smith said. “When we had the Mesquite Heat fire and conditions were worse, often times we don’t get as many people coming to the booth. Last year we had a lot of rain, and this year we’re pretty close to the same amount of rain as last year, not quite as much.”

With good rainfall this year and a surplus in early June, water levels in Taylor County appear to be OK. However, Chief Gary Young of the ECCA Volunteer Fire Department said this won’t last very long.

“Today we are still on the edge with fireworks and the safety associated with them. But the next 7 to 10 days of triple-digit temperatures that we are going to experience are really going to change the environment, the integration, the integration and the fuel that is out there,” explained Chief Young.

Because dead grass serves as fuel for wildfires, Chief Young expressed concern about the reckless use of fireworks on the Fourth of July.

“Our grasses are dormant this year and have no moisture left. They will ignite and burn very quickly and start a really big fire in a very short period of time and that is what we can expect in the next 7 to 10 days,” Chief Young added with concern.

Chief Young said he hopes to enforce a fire ban in Taylor County a few days before the holiday when the Taylor County Commissioners meet.

A burn ban is currently in effect throughout the Big Country in Brown, Coke, Eastland, Fisher, Mitchell, Nolan, Shackelford, Stonewall and Throckmorton counties.