Fort Bend County officials have banned the sale, use, and possession of aerial fireworks in unincorporated areas like New Territory because drought conditions could increase the risk of fires, said County Attorney Roy Cordes. The emergency order, signed by County Judge Bob Hebert on June 24, was legally possible to enact because the Governor had already issued a disaster declaration warranted by the recent drought, said Cordes.
By state statute, the order can only cover a 60 hour period, but the county requested the Governor’s Office to extend the ban up to 30 days, said Cordes.
The order does not pertain to licensed pyrotechnics who are discharging fireworks for an approved event like the one at New Territory’s Sports Complex, clarified Cordes.
As a precaution, the fire department will be present at the fireworks show in New Territory, said Community Manager Dwayne Lowry.
And patrol deputies with the Pct. 4 Constable’s Office will also be making the rounds in New Territory over the holiday weekend, said Chief Deputy Chad Norvell. “We will definitely be enforcing the ban”, he said.
Violators may be charged with Possession of Fireworks, a class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $500, he said.
Fort Bend County has been experiencing a heat wave for the last few weeks, with temperatures in the 100’s. According to rain gauges at the Brazos River Bridge in Richmond, the last measurable precipitation (in total inches) was .03 on May 24. There was less than an inch of rain reported for the month of May and none in June.
Similarly, discharge rates at the Brazos River (how much cubic feet of water is moving downstream each second) is at record lows,
said a spokesperson with the Texas water Science Center in Galveston. On June 24, 2009, the discharge rate was 413 cfs. The lowest recorded rate for this date in history was 482 cfs in 1952. The median rate is 4690 for this time of year.
If water usage increases in New Territory as a result of the lack of rainfall and extreme, hot weather, the MUDs may have to implement their drought contingency plan. Currently, the wells are operating below 70% of capacity. If they run at 85% of their capacity for three consecutive days, the MUDs will initiate Stage One which is voluntary conservation, said the Operator. According to the plan, participating residents would alternate watering their lawns based on an even numbered or odd numbered house number. The next stage, mandatory conservation, kicks in when the wells are running at 90% capacity, said the Operator. Violators would face significant fines if their water usage exceeds stipulated limits, she said.
Signs will be posted throughout the community if the drought contingency plan is implemented, she said. “Of course, we are encouraging conservation at all times. By conserving now, we may be able to keep water usage low enough to avoid the drought contingency plan,” she commented.
