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County lifts restrictions on fire, fireworks to come later
Tom Fagin, News Record writer
Posted 11/20/12
The countywide ban on open burning that has been in place since July was lifted Tuesday because of wetter, cooler weather conditions in the county.
Fire Chief Don Huber had recommended the change, and the Campbell County Commission approved it.
The surrounding counties and agencies like the Bureau of Land Management have listed restrictions, Huber said. Although it was still dry in the county, he thought the risks were acceptable now.
“I think there’s a need for people to burn,” he said.
There will no longer be limitations on when trash can be burned and that a spark arrestor be used. The restriction also had required people in the unincorporated areas of Campbell County to clear areas when using potential firestarters such as acetylene torches, welding and fire branding as well as shovels and other fire suppression.
An earlier version of the fire restriction had gone in late June, followed briefly by a total ban, which had included the cancellation of Fourth of July fireworks show. Later, the commission went back to a more lenient restriction, but commissioners didn’t lift the ban on fireworks as they usually do for the Fourth of July Holiday
Fireworks for New Year’s
If fireworks vendors missed out because there was no lift on the fireworks ban on Independence Day, they may be able to recoup that money come New Year’s. The commission approved a resolution that will allow fireworks sales from 12:01 a.m. Dec. 22 to 12:01 a.m. Jan 2.
The resolution will depend on the weather and fire conditions in the county. It will prohibit fireworks to be ignited within 100 feet of a residence, and forbid people from owning, selling or using bottle rockets.
John LaVallee of Discount Fireworks and Randall Sinclair of Six Flags Fireworks had tried to reach an arrangement with the county before the Fourth, but the commissioners had been too concerned about the risk of fire to lift the ban. Both business owners supported the commissioner’s decision to lift the ban for a New Year’s celebration.
“Maybe we can make back a little of what we lost this summer,” LaVallee told commissioners Tuesday.