Only hours after commissioners court imposed a burn ban, County Judge Robert Hebert also signed a Disaster Declaration for Threat of Wildfires Proclamation for Fort Bend County.
The declaration is similar to one signed earlier by Harris County Judge Ed Emmett and bans the sale and use of all fireworks “stick rockets” and aerial missiles with fins within Fort Bend County.
“The purpose of this order is the mitigation of the hazard posed by wildfires by curtailing the sale or use of restricted fireworks, which purpose is to be taken into account in any enforcement action based upon this order,” the declaration read.
With the entire region experiencing record high temperatures and dry conditions, the risk of fire is unacceptably high and warrants the ban on the aerial fireworks, Hebert noted.
Although the local declaration is good for only 60 hours, Hebert simultaneously petitioned Gov. Rick Perry to extend the 60-hour period up to an additional thirty days with the issuance of a Governor’s Disaster Declaration.
“My primary concern has to be the safety and welfare of our citizens, and I do not believe that the burn ban adopted by commissioner’s court is sufficient to protect life and property as we enter the July 4th period under serious drought conditions,” Hebert said. “I am hopeful that Gov. Perry will support this initiative.”
While the declaration bans the use of aerial fireworks, it does not prohibit a professional fireworks display conducted by a person holding a valid pyrotechnics operator’s license.
