WilCo Offers New Year's Eve Fireworks Safety Tips

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX — While the holiday spirit may inspire some residents to light up the night sky with fireworks on New Year's Eve, Williamson County officials remind that most jurisdictions have city ordinances prohibiting the use of fireworks within or near the city limits.

Residents can check the interactive county map with the fireworks free buffer zone area to find out where fireworks are allowed. The advisory's urgency is heightened given a burn ban across the county which prohibits burning of combustible material outside an enclosure that would otherwise contain all flames and sparks.

“Although we have seen small amounts of rainfall in the past few weeks, we are in extremely dry, drought conditions," Williamson County Fire Marshal Hank Jones said in a prepared statement. "There is still plenty of fuel, such as dry grasses, that could potentially start fires,” said “People need to use extreme caution if they choose to use fireworks under these conditions.”

Fireworks are not permitted in Williamson County parks, officials added. Also, it is illegal to discharge fireworks within 600 feet of a hospital, sanitarium, veterinary hospital, school, church, and within 100 feet of a fuel dispensing station for flammable or combustible liquids, officials added. Moreover, officials said, discharging fireworks at or from a moving vehicle is also not allowed.

Consumer fireworks can be dangerous when used improperly, causing serious burns and eye injuries. It is crucial that people check with their local fire department/district for recommendations or suggested precautions to follow before deciding to use them.

For those still interested in using fireworks, the Williamson County Fire Marshal’s Office offered tips to keep everyone safe:

• Do not let your children buy fireworks without adult supervision.
• Only buy from reliable fireworks sellers.
• Never experiment or attempt to make your own fireworks.
• Store fireworks in a cool, dry place.
• Find a smooth, flat surface, away from the house or other buildings, dry leaves or grass.
• Be sure you have a bucket of water or a water hose nearby in case of a malfunction or fire.
• Always have adult supervision.
• Do not use fireworks when the weather forecast calls for winds above 10 mph.

When you’re ready to shoot the fireworks off:

• Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks.
• Always read and follow label directions, warnings, and instructions.
• Be considerate of your neighbors.
• Only ignite fireworks outdoors and away from houses and outbuildings.
• Light only one firework at a time.
• Never re-light a “dud” firework. If a firework does not work properly, wait 15 to 20 minutes, and then soak it in a bucket of water and dispose of it properly.
• Never give fireworks to small children, even sparklers cause serious burns.
• Be sure other people are out of range before lighting fireworks.
• Never throw fireworks at another person, vehicle, or animal.
• Never carry fireworks in your pocket.
• Never shoot fireworks in metal or glass containers.
• Dispose of spent fireworks by wetting them down and place in a metal trash can away from any building or combustible materials until the next day.

For more information about the potential fire danger within Williamson County, visit the Fire Marshal’s Office website. For more guidelines, visit the Fireworks Safety Tips portal. Other emergency preparedness tips can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/preparingwilco.