Can you light up fireworks under a burn ban in North Texas? It depends on where you are
Public pyrotechnic shows may be the safest places for families this weekend, according to Tarrant County Fire Marshal Randy Renois.
That is at least what Renois is encouraging people to do because of the fire danger posed by lighting up fireworks.
The County Commissioners Court unanimously approved a burn ban Tuesday morning as the persistent heat has placed the county just short of extreme drought conditions.
However, the ban on outdoor burning does not prevent the lighting of fireworks in unincorporated areas of the county. Nor will it impact the sale of fireworks, since it’s not part of the law governing bans on outdoor burning. Section 352.081 of local government code on county fire protection, covers outdoor burning but does not mention fireworks sales or use, according to Renois.
The county is urging residents in rural areas to keep “approximately 30 feet mowed around homes and outbuildings to prevent a fire from reaching those structures,” according to a press release Tuesday. “Residents should also remove unwanted combustible debris and vegetation away from their homes and be sure to keep water hoses accessible in the event a small fire starts.”
Renois stressed safety first for the weekend celebrations: “We encourage all Tarrant County residents to take these precautions and be safe over the holiday weekend.”
What fireworks are illegal
In Texas the common 1.4G fireworks are permissible to be sold on designated days throughout the year.
Retail fireworks selling season dates are typically around holidays such as Fourth of July, Christmas, New Year’s and Texas Independence Day.
Illegal fireworks include sky rockets, or bottle rockets, with a propellant charge of less than four grams, an outside diameter casing size of less than five-eighths of an inch and an overall length, including stick, of less than 15 inches.
Pop rockets with a less than five-inch propellant casing length, an exterior diameter less than three-fourths of an inch and an overall total rocket length less than 26 inches are also not permissible, according to the Texas State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Where can you light up fireworks
Fireworks can’t be shot off just anywhere in town.
Igniting personal fireworks are restricted to unincorporated parts of Tarrant County, as long as its your property or you received permission from the property owner.
Other limitations by the Tarrant County Fire Marshal’s Office include:
- Exploding or igniting fireworks within 600 feet of any church, hospital, asylum, a licensed child care center or schools unless they receive written authorization from that organization.
Exploding or igniting fireworks within 100 feet of where flammable liquids or compressed gasses are stored and dispensed.
Exploding or igniting fireworks within 100 feet of where fireworks are stored or sold.
Igniting or discharging fireworks within or from a motor vehicle.
Igniting or placing ignited fireworks in a motor vehicle or throwing fireworks at a motor vehicle.
If property damage that exceeds $200 occurs because of a violation of the limitations or the incident results in bodily injury or death, the offense is classified as a Class B misdemeanor.
Reporting illegal fireworks
Both Fort Worth and Arlington have ways to report illegal fireworks activity.
Fort Worth residents are asked to call 817-392-4444 or report through the MyFW app using the red banner at the bottom of a smartphone screen. Reports can also be made at reportfireworks.fortworthtexas.gov.
Arlington residents are asked to report illegal firework activity at arlingtontx.gov/reportfireworks or using the Ask Arlington app on a smartphone.
This story was originally published June 27, 2022 at 4:09 PM.
