Commissioner Murman quoted in this Tampa Bay Times article on burn ban:
Hillsborough exempts fireworks shows from burn ban after hearing company’s plea
- By Langston Taylor, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 31, 2017 3:23pm
TAMPA — Hillsborough County officials exempted the use of fireworks from the ban on open burning Wednesday out of concern for business and fun as the Fourth of July approaches.
Since April 27, the Emergency Policy Group has met weekly to extend a ban on campfires, fireworks use and other open burning as drought and heat put the county at risk of wildfire.
But at the group’s meeting Wednesday, representatives from a local fireworks retailer asked members to legalize their products’ use.
They found a receptive audience.
“Fourth of July without fireworks seems pretty un-American,” said Hillsborough County Commissioner Stacy White.
The Emergency Policy Group is made up of representatives from the county and the cities of Tampa, Temple Terrace and Plant City. The only members in attendance Wednesday were two county commissioners and county Administrator Mike Merrill.
Sharon Hunnewell-Johnson, president of Galaxy Fireworks, said news coverage of the burn ban is hurting her company.
“Our phones are not even ringing the way they should, to even apply for positions,” Hunnewell-Johnson said.
Her Tampa company typically hires 300 short-term employees to sell fireworks from temporary tents, she said.
Luke Lirot, a Clearwater lawyer speaking on behalf of Galaxy Fireworks, asked the group to consider those jobs in addition to public safety.
“We’d love for you to err on the side of benevolence toward the business interests involved,” Lirot said.
White proposed exempting fireworks from the open-burning ban but leaving the rest of the prohibition in place for another week.
A burn ban in Pasco County will remain and continue to include fireworks, county spokesman Doug Tobin said. He said Pasco hopes to rescind the ban on June 20.
Pinellas County restricts all fireworks use without a county permit, spokeswoman Irena Karolak said.
During the Hillsborough County meeting, fire Chief Dennis Jones said he would be concerned about allowing fireworks use right now. After the meeting, he advised residents to “use the fireworks in the way they are intended.”
Since October, Tampa has received just 8 inches of rain, less than half its normal amount for that period, according to the National Weather Service.
On Wednesday, the county’s average drought index was 588, the fifth highest in the state, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Patrick Keogh, a supervisor with the Florida Forest Service, said the number last year was 342.
Keogh said April, May and June are always busy times for him, but this year has been extreme. The heat across Florida has helped fuel more than 2,200 wildfires across 174,000 acres so far this year.
Officials hope for and expect some relief in coming days.
“I know — we all know — the rain’s coming,” said County Commissioner Sandy Murman.
Keogh cautioned that even with a little rain, grass can dry out quickly, becoming flammable again within an hour.
Hunnewell-Johnson defended the safety of fireworks, noting that the state tracks causes of wildfires and none in the past year has been caused by fireworks. Keogh said that’s correct, but said the tally doesn’t include fires that drew only local or municipal fire departments.
The ban prohibited fireworks over the Memorial Day weekend. Channelside Bay Plaza, which held a celebration with live music Sunday, apologized on its Facebook page for its lack of fireworks.
White said that if the drought continues, the Emergency Policy Group will be sure to reconvene before July Fourth.
“We always have the ability to put the brakes on,” he said.
