ROANOKE -- One year ago, Jack and Jaime Holcomb looked at their brown, water-starved pasture in Rhome and knew that the annual fireworks display they put on for friends and family was out of the question.
This year, thanks to spring rains and, until recently, mild temperatures, the Holcombs' show will return. On a recent morning at Nelson's Fireworks in Roanoke, they loaded carts with fireworks with names like Vengeful Texan, Black Mamba and Smoke 'n Mirrors."Our pasture is actually green this year," Jack Holcomb said. "We can light some fireworks without worrying that we'll set a fire."A year after the record-breaking drought turned Texas into a tinderbox, causing dozens of counties to shut down fireworks stands, sales of fireworks rebounded across the state as the Fourth of July approached. Customers at roadside stands snapped up fireworks like Black Cats, Stimulus Package and Aerial Dogfight.On Texas 114 in Roanoke, Nelson's Fireworks called in extra cashiers over the weekend. Across the street, business was steady at Ron's Fireworks, and owner Ron Bonneau said he hopes to make up for last year, when sales lagged 40 percent. Alamo Fireworks, which operates about 25 stands in North Texas, said sales fell by roughly half last year, forcing the company to close a large warehouse in San Antonio."So far, this year looks excellent," said Luke Girdley, vice president of Alamo, one of the largest fireworks wholesalers and retailers in Texas. "A lot of people have some pent-up desires to go out and pop stuff."In Tarrant County, fireworks can be used only in unincorporated areas. Even there, it's legal only on private property with the owner's permission, so roads and shoulders are off limits.But last year, fire officials discouraged people from setting off fireworks, instead promoting public displays.About 130 other counties, including Parker County, restricted fireworks because of dry conditions.The drought may be over, but Tarrant County Fire Marshal Randy Renois is again urging people to attend public displays rather than create their own."It's not as critical as last year, but we do dry out around the Fourth of July," Renois said. "Unfortunately, people tend to think they can buy fireworks, then go and shoot them wherever they want."Last year's dry conditions caused David Brooks of Southlake to completely call off his family's usual 45-minute fireworks display.On Saturday, he bought boxes of fireworks such as Light Brigade, Waterfall Fantasy and Blued-n-Tattooed. His daughters, 6 and 11, picked out Roman candles and sparklers, which they like to use to write their names."We're all secret pyro junkies, I guess," Brooks said, explaining people's fascination with fireworks.A few years ago, the Holcombs began shooting off fireworks for their Rhome neighborhood so friends relatives didn't have to sit in traffic to attend a public display.Last year, they set off only a few fireworks."Everybody enjoys getting together and watching fireworks," Jack Holcomb said. "And this way, we can put the kids to bed as soon as they're over."Operators of fireworks stands say more than three-quarters of sales come between July 2 and July 4, so they do not yet know how they will fare this year.Randy Nelson, who runs Nelson's Fireworks with his family, predicted that the number of casual fireworks users will jump this season after dipping last year.People shoot fireworks, he said, because they are one of the few things that people of all ages can enjoy."People love the element of danger, but they also love getting together with friends and family," Nelson said. "You're not watching it on TV or the Internet. It's as close to real-life magic as most of us ever get."Sarah Bahari, 817-390-7056Twitter: @sarahbfwHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
