Escambia Burn Ban Prevents Private Fireworks

July 4, 2011

A burn ban remains in effect  that prohibits private Fourth of July fireworks in Escambia County.

The entire county — including Century and Pensacola –  remains under a burn ban.  The ban prohibits open burning, campfires, bonfires, burning of trash and fireworks anywhere in Escambia County.

While fireworks can be purchased, fires resulting from fireworks can result in a $400 fine or a mandatory court appearance, not to mention serious damage and injuries, according to county officials. Sparklers are included in the burn ban in Escambia County.

The only exemptions to the burn ban are state permitted burns, authorized fireworks displays, fireworks sales authorized by state law and outdoor cooking cooking in barbeque grills, smoker and other outdoor stoves at private residences.

Escambia County is encouraging families to attend public fireworks displays planned across our area.

Comments

10 Responses to “Escambia Burn Ban Prevents Private Fireworks”

  1. Mike P on July 4th, 2011 11:57 pm

    We set off the usual $300 worth of fireworks we purchase every year. It is too much of a tradition for us and too hard to disappoint our kids and relatives not to. We’ve had some showers and the grass is green, but we sprayed the area we were using down with the hose a couple of times, once before we started and once about half way through.

    The police stopped by which has never happened, saying a neighbor complained. We were pretty much through so it didn’t ruin our day. That neighbor hinted around about how dry it has been and how there was a ban and all earlier in the day. Ironically while standing on green grass.

    No one in my family has had any damage caused by fireworks or caused any because we take common sense measures and are responsible. Unfortunately we live in a police state with a bunch of tattle tales who love cause grief for others.

    It is wrong for the government to tell us we can’t use fireworks because it is too dry. I would be fine for the government to advise we not use fireworks in locations that are too dry and give helpful suggestions. To tell us to use common sense and treat us as free men. That is fine. This is supposed to be a free country. People who do not use good judgement should be held accountable. Everyone else should not be held hostage by the state because of them.

    Especially on the day we gave the British the finger and declared our independence. We declared our independence today from the ban and continued our family tradition. From the sounds of it many of you did too. Happy Independence Day!

  2. Barb of P'cola on July 4th, 2011 10:47 pm

    I could not believe the amount of trash left behind by the so called “responsible” citizens or close neighbors of Pensacola. I have never seen it so bad, it was sad and depressing. People have so little respect for anything that is not theirs or if it causes them any inconvenience they get very disrepectful. So how can we expect people to willingly cooperate with a ban which prohibits them from doing something they want to do? Gosh forbid there be rules and regulations that we need to go by. I don’t think I will be celebrating down town next year. To disheartening.

  3. jennifer on July 4th, 2011 8:35 pm

    I dont think people are thinking. We are at the Palafox pier and some reälly brilliant people are setting off fireworks in the middle of a large croud!!!
    Besides there being a burn ban there are too many people around!

  4. 429SCJ on July 4th, 2011 6:15 pm

    We camped from Saturday morning to Sunday around noon. We had a small fire on the Alabama side, watched Dawn of the Dead and The Cider House Rules on the dvd. I did not hear much firework activity on the river. The storm skirted us leaving a nice dry cool breeze. Things are pretty quite around here at the moment.

  5. TCD on July 4th, 2011 6:04 pm

    Hope none of you that obviously don’t intend on paying attention to the burn ban don’t burn someones house down.You might face more than a fine like the bars in the jail. It might even be your own house try consideration of the law and the lives of those that put theirs on the line for people that don’t follow the law.

  6. dustin on July 4th, 2011 1:31 pm

    uhhh hasnt it rained like everyday for the last month… everybody be careful with your fireworks but have fun i think this is a stupid burn ban

  7. Molino-Anon on July 4th, 2011 12:43 pm

    Nice way to celebrate our freedom and independence by being oppressed by the man. The article says and I quote:

    “While fireworks can be purchased, fires resulting from fireworks can result in a $400 fine or a mandatory court appearance”

    So if you don’t get careless and start a fire, there’s no fine… All I gotta say is if all the neighbors are firing off their fireworks like they do EVERY YEAR where I live, I’m doing mine as well.

  8. Polythenepam on July 4th, 2011 11:46 am

    Glad to hear you have rain, everything in my yard is wilted. (Century area), Im all for common sense, how far will the sparks from a fire travel on a breeze? Not to Century I think. Those we pay to know have issued the ban for a good reason, the odds of a fire starting now are way more than “any other time”. When they go out to deal with fires they put their life on the line, out of respect for that alone the ban should be obeyed. Why would anyone need a bonfire in this heat LOL.

    They’ve also arranged some pretty nice fireworks displays for the public……

  9. Florida Girl on July 4th, 2011 10:57 am

    I’ve seen, heard fireworks, i know of bonefires that have happened this weekend and nobody was caught and no fire has started. Just because a burn ban is out doesn’t mean it can’t happen any other time. I think beulah has had enough rain but that’s just me.

  10. Ploythenepam on July 4th, 2011 9:01 am

    All the police need to do is ride around a bit shut the motor off for a minute and listen, I heard plenty of fireworks last night. I guess the idiots don’t think about burning down someones house.