Volunteer Firefighters Are Anticipating a Busy Holiday Weekend & Need Your Help

SAN ANGELO – West Texas is in the grip of a severe drought and Volunteer Firefighters in Tom Green County are adding extra manpower to meet the expected increase in fire calls over the July 4th Independence Day Holiday Weekend as some county residents will be discharging fireworks.  

At the scene of a fire on Wednesday, June 29, 2022, Grape Creek VFD Public Information Officer Jose Rivera asked for the help from residents to prevent fires cause by carelessness and misuse of fireworks.  

"The County Burn Ban is in effect.  No outdoor burning is allowed, especially any time of debris or trash burning, none of that is allowed." Rivera said.  "The sale and use of fireworks is allowed in Tom Green County with a few exceptions.  Those exceptions can be found on the Tom Green County website and also on our Grape Creek Volunteer Fire Department Media Page.  Some of those exceptions are fireworks that are rockets or things that fly in the air that could possibly start a grass fire.  There are some penalties involved."  

"People can still enjoy themselves and purchase and use fireworks, but as Volunteer Fire Departments we are asking please exercise extreme caution.  This is one of the driest years in the history of our state."  Said Rivera.  "It's important that people who are going to use fireworks have a water supply readily available, they do it in area where there is no dry grass, and that adults supervise children when they are utilizing fireworks."  

Rivera said, "We can't stress enough.  Please use caution when using fireworks."  

Rivera said they would have extra volunteers on standby this weekend in anticipation of having to respond to increased calls for fires caused by fireworks.