I’m kind of a stick in the mud on this one.

Amarillo’s city ordinances prohibit the use of fireworks within the city limits. Good deal. Amarillo Police Cpl. Jerry Neufeld advises those who wish to pop them off during the Fourth of July celebration to take their fireworks into the unincorporated areas.

My reaction? The counties should ban them too, at least during this season of extreme drought.

http://www.connectamarillo.com/news/story.aspx?id=913593#.UcjjL0oo6t8

The counties already have imposed – and then lifted – burn bans. First they’re on, then they’re off, depending on the amount of moisture we get from the sky. Personally, I’d rather see Randall and Potter counties impose uniform burn bans, keep them in place until we get substantial rainfall; and by substantial, I’m talking several inches, maybe 4 or 5 inches at a single dousing.

The same principle can apply to fireworks bans.

The practice of lighting off Roman candles or whatever rocket-launched fireworks is fraught with danger even without the threat of fire should something go terribly wrong. I won’t go so far as to call for their permanent ban. However, in this time of drought – the recent rain and hail notwithstanding – the exploding of fireworks is at the very least a foolish act.

The rain will come again … eventually. Until it does, keep the fireworks bottled up.