County under drought emergency but some fireworks allowed

By Staff
Staff Reports, Hartselle Enquirer
Morgan County may be under a Drought Emergency declaration but that doesn't mean the sale or use of fireworks is completely banned.
"Under the emergency drought regulation, the retail selling of fireworks is not banned," State Forester Linda Casey said. "There are some restrictions to the public's use of fireworks, but it was never intended to be a ban on the sale of fireworks in the affected counties. Neither the Forestry Commission nor the State Fire Marshal have the authority to ban the retail sale of fireworks."
Morgan County is one of 33 counties included in the drought emergency.
While under the drought emergency, it is unlawful "for any person to set fire to any forest, grass, woods, wildlands or marshes, to build a campfire or bonfire, to discharge any type of fireworks except over water, or to burn trash or other material that may cause a forest, grass or woods fire until said declaration is lifted."
Local governments, organizations or fireworks companies can still file permit request with the State Forester to hold a fireworks show. Decisions on those shows will be made by the State Fire Marshall and the State Forester.
Among the shows that's already been approved is Decatur's Spirit of America Festival.
"There will be fireworks on July 4th," Spirit of America Festival President Beverly Walker said. "This is a professional fireworks display that follows strict guidelines, set forth and governed by federal, state and local authorities."
Fireworks at the Spirit of American Festival are shot over water at Point Mallard. The festival also has a safety plan, on-site inspection by Decatur Fire Marshall and a fire department engine on standby during the show.
These precautions are taken every year but because of the dry weather, more emphasis will be placed on them this year, Walker said.
The public can also buy their own fireworks. The drought declaration does not ban the sale of fireworks.
"The situation in Alabama is extremely dangerous for burning and for the use of fireworks. The regulation was intended to address where fireworks might be safely used in these particular counties, not to ban their sale," Alabama State Fire Marshal Ed Paulk said.
The 33 counties were placed under a Drought Emergency (No Burn) on June 7, after the U.S. Drought Mitigation Center upgraded most of north Alabama from a D-3 to a D-4 drought level, which is the highest rating on the scale. Alabama is the only state in the nation with a rating this high. To date, neither Georgia nor Florida have reached a drought level this high.