THE SHOALS – Sheffield Fire Marshall Terry Lentz says that even though there is no official State clampdown on fireworks this dry 4th of July Holiday, these tinderbox conditions can be trouble.
In past years, when the fields and lawns turn brown from weeks of little or no rain, the Alabama Fire Marshall has resorted to fireworks bans. But not this year. Evidently, as dry as it seems, the necessity of such a harsh decision hasn’t arisen. But Lentz says that’s no excuse for fireworks carelessness. “People should remember that if their bottle rocket catches a neighbor’s back yard on fire, fireworks ban or not, they will be held responsible,” he told The Quad-Cities Daily. He continued, “When you’re out shooting fireworks this Fourth, keep a garden hose handy. Most people don’t think about doing this, but it’s really important.”