By Charles McClure
news@ltview.com
The only place hotter than the south shore of Lake Travis in recent weeks is fictional — the lowest level of Danté’s “Inferno.”

High temperature marks fell for 10 consecutive days as of last Monday, when the thermostat topped 110 degrees — for the second time in a week. Even more striking, high temperature marks fell in 16 of the previous 17 days.
The scorching heat, combined with some of the worst drought conditions in the nation, has Travis County Pct. 3 Commissioner Karen Huber worried, particularly as July 4 approaches,
Her anxieties can be summed up in one word – “fireworks.”
“This year more than any other in our recent history, it is crucial that Central Texans use restraint when using fireworks,” Huber said.
The sweltering heat, combined with the drought, make most of Central Texas a tinder box just waiting for a spark that could erupt in a wildfire.
Even the consumer fireworks industry is concerned.
Chester Davis, the President of the Texas Pyrotechnic Association, has asked fireworks retailers to voluntarily ban the sale of rockets and fireworks with sticks and fins from being sold in Travis County during this year’s Fourth of July season.
“My understanding is that this type of agreement has worked out in the past, and I am grateful to the Texas Pyrotechnic Association for this action,” said Huber said. “Still, it is purely voluntary with no guarantee that 100 percent of retailers will comply.”
She noted that counties in Texas have precious little authority to ban the sale and use of consumer fireworks. According to Travis County Fire Marshal Hershel Lee, the county would have had to take action to restrict the sale of consumer fireworks prior to June 15 in order to be effective for the annual Independence Day selling season. However, the conditions in mid-June did not meet the state’s legal requirements at that time.
“Rockets with sticks and missiles with fins are the only fireworks that counties have any authority to address and must do so in a prescribed manner according to state statute,” Lee said.
The Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) had to be at least 500 before the county could take action and while the drought index was inching near the mark, it was slightly below it at the time.
And there’s the rub, from Huber’s perspective
“Herein lies the problem for counties in Texas,” Huber said. “By the time the Index levels reach the benchmark for action, the action timeline requirements usually do not fit.”
Huber advocates a change in state law, and observed that each and every legislative session, a myriad of bills are filed that would allow counties greater leeway to limit or ban fireworks. But Huber said “pro-fireworks lobby is strong and has been able to prevent any new legislation from being enacted.”
But what was true in mid-June is no longer the case today. As of last Tuesday, the KBDI drought index had topped 595 – and 575 is the benchmark for “extreme to exceptional drought” designation.
“This is really scary — we must be exceedingly vigilant, right now,” Huber said. It has been a long, long time since Travis County has seen numbers this high. Because of the extreme drought conditions, the high fuel loads in the rural areas and the extreme fire risk, I encourage everyone to attend one of the managed fireworks displays, like City of Austin or Lakeway, etc., rather than risk a wildfire.”
The few sprinkles that happened in the area on Tuesday were far from enough to lessen the potential danger, according to the Texas Forest Service (TFS).
TFS warned that carelessness with fireworks and other outdoor activities can lead to a wildfire.
The droughts, along with the record heat wave, have dried out grass, shrubs and trees. These dry “fuels” and an errant spark from fireworks or a grill is all that is needed to start a devastating wildfire.
“Many Texans use fireworks to celebrate the Fourth of July,” TFS Fire Operations Chief Mark Stanford said. “TFS encourages Texans to use fireworks safely. Citizens should be diligent in protecting themselves and their property from accidental wildfires.”
Sandra Taylor, TFS fire prevention specialist, said that if citizens take the risk of using consumer fireworks, they should steer clear of homes and structures, which can be accidentally ignited.
She said there are a few tips you should adhere to when using fireworks.
“Fireworks should only be used under close adult supervision and in safe areas, away from grass and brush,” said Taylor. “A water hose, bucket of water and wet towels should be kept nearby in case they are needed to stop small fires. Used fireworks should be disposed of in a bucket of water.”
But TFS also said that it would be best if residents simply avoided using consumer fireworks in lieu of attending a managed fireworks display.
Citizens should also remember that most municipalities ban the use of consumer fireworks, and that if a person using them sparks a fire, they could face both criminal and civil penalties.