Walton County burn ban- Includes Fireworks

[Kurt]

Drought Conditions Mean Zero Tolerance for Illegal Fireworks

Under Florida law, only novelty-type fireworks are legal for consumer usage, and anything that flies in the air or explodes is illegal.

Legal fireworks include sparklers, snake or glow worms, trick noisemakers, party poppers, snappers and other similar fireworks that contain small amounts of pyrotechnic materials that typically do not leave the ground.

According to Walton County Sheriff Michael A. Adkinson, Jr., current drought conditions mandate a zero tolerance policy toward individuals who use, sell or possess illegal fireworks.

On June 13, Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency in Florida due to wildfires and drought conditions, with 93% of the state affected. Outdoor cooking and cigarettes are additional hazards during drought conditions. Please remind guests to completely extinguish all cooking fires and not to throw lit cigarettes on the ground.

 

[Beach Runner]

Thanks for posting this, Kurt. It is incredible how pine trees are dying on I-85 in Georgia, how the corn fields are dead in Alabama, how sick the saw palmettos and live oaks in SoWal look. Then when we arrived at our home in Seagrove, we saw cigarette butts in the pine straw.

If someone sees a guest of ours smoking outside, I'd appreciate a PM. I will also post a sign in our home.

 

[Matt J]

There's also talk of not having public fireworks displays if the drought continues.

 

[Miss Critter]

Fireworks displays from barges offshore will be fine, but ground-based shows may be prohibited if the drought continues.

 

[beachmouse]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news...rida-weather-orlando-20110616,0,5895997.story

Drought conditions in Florida have worsened in the past week, with almost 93 percent of the state at some level of drought.

Areas under "exceptional" drought conditions — the worst classification — grew from about 7 percent of the state last week to almost 10 percent this week. Those areas are in North Florida along the Florida-Georgia line and in southeast Florida.

At this point in June, drought conditions are almost identical to the same time in 1998, when wildfires devastated the state, said Jim Karels, director of the state Division of Forestry.

However, conditions worsened considerably during the final two weeks of June and first week of July in 1998, and it is impossible to tell what the next few weeks will bring, Karels said.

 

[Kurt]

In light of significant drought conditions and the increased threat of wildfires, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), in cooperation with the state Division of Forestry and other partner agencies, issued an executive order June 16 prohibiting campfires in wildlife management areas, wildlife and environmental areas and all other lands it manages.

The order went into effect at 12:01 a.m. June 17 and remains in effect until rescinded by a subsequent order. The FWC joins the DOF, the Department of Environmental Protection and Florida water management districts in this effort.

“Special regulations are necessary to mitigate risk to public safety and to minimize the likelihood of igniting fires that will adversely impact wildlife and wildlife habitat,” said the order, signed by Nick Wiley, FWC executive director.

In its executive order, the FWC notes that Florida is experiencing inordinately dry conditions for this time of year. “As a result, DOF and FWC have been fighting multiple wildfires within wildlife management areas, wildlife and environmental areas and other lands managed by FWC.”

If placed openly on the ground, the fire is considered a campfire, and therefore barred. Only cooking fires contained in commercially designed apparatuses are allowed. Any violation is considered a second-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to a $500 fine and 60 days in jail. Law enforcement agencies on each respective state property are responsible for enforcing violations.

 

[Gidget]

I would like to see a switch from fireworks to laser light shows http://www.lasershows.net/content/view/110/89/ - better for the environment and for wildlife.

Fireworks are being blamed for the deaths of 5,000 birds in Arkansas. The professional-grade explosives scared red-winged blackbirds and European starlings out of their nests and sent them into panicked flight. The night-blind birds crashed into houses, signs, and other obstacles, causing blunt-force trauma and death.

As this case shows, fireworks displays are disastrous for animals. Besides being frightening, fireworks produce plumes of smoke that are harmful to animals' respiratory systems and pollute standing water. The California Coastal Commission banned the city of Gualala's fireworks display after a 2006 show caused nesting seabirds to flee their nests and abandon their chicks. Fireworks are also being blamed for the deaths of about 50 birds found dead on a street in Sweden earlier this year. Animal shelters also report an increase in the number of lost animal companions following fireworks displays. Many animals go missing because they panic and jump over fences or break chains; some even jump through plate-glass windows in order to get away from the terrifying sounds.

You can help birds and other animals by asking officials in your town to ban fireworks and switch to laser light shows, which provide all the awe of fireworks displays but are more affordable and kinder to animals and the environment.​

 

[beachmouse]

http://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/officials-41383-drought-expected.html

Even some of the legal “consumer fireworks” can pose a risk, said Sammy Sanchez, fire marshal with the South Walton Fire District.

“Sparklers can reach temperatures of 1,200 degrees, and people give those sparklers to little kids,” he said. “Even though they’re not illegal, there’s still a danger.”

Fire officials say the best decision is to avoid all fireworks because any kind of flying spark or flame could start a fire that quickly grows out of control.

There's a PDF of the Walton County order in the story, and personal fireworks are specifically included in the ban. AFAIK, Okaloosa and Bay haven't banned them yet, so if you really have to, (and really, I hope y'all don't) one of those areas might be an option.

 

[scooterbug44]

I love that as I clicked on this thread something exploded outside.

Praying for a deluge pre-4th!

 

[Andy A]

We had that deluge yesterday at BMB. I am certainly in support of the ban but I dislike it when the ban continues to be blamed on the drought when there are more important reasons for the ban to be in place. Just tell the people like it is. There is no need for subterfuge.