- March 28, 2024
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Although conditions are improving in Flagler County and statewide, fireworks remain a no-go this Fourth of July. Officials urge extra caution, while remaining optimistic.
Extra patrols will be cruising Flagler County this weekend to enforce the ongoing burn ban, which prohibits all open flames, including fireworks and sparklers.
A message from Flagler County Sheriff Don Fleming:
“Because of the burn ban and the dry conditions we’re experiencing, and all the work by the fire departments to keep you safe, please refrain from using fireworks this year. It’s for your safety and your neighbor’s safety. All it takes is one little spark, and boom.”
It’s been touch-and-go for firefighters the past couple of weeks. After a persistent drought that created ideal conditions for flames to jump containment lines and race through the woods, the area finally saw rain. But lightning accompanied that rain, tallying 18 new flare-ups the weekend of June 24 and June 25.
Conditions improved toward the end of the weekend, however, dumping up to three inches of precipitation in certain parts of the county Sunday, June 26, and only allowing for a single .1 acre fire to start. That fire was quickly contained.
The rains have also helped in slowing the growth of Flagler’s largest fire, in Espanola. It has remained at the same acreage — about 5,000 acres — and containment level — 70% — for close to a week.
In contrast, the Espanola fire grew more than 1,300 acres in just two days, in the middle of June.
At that time, 200 Division of Forestry crewmembers were assigned to the fire; now, there are 80. There were also eight taskforces at work, including resources from Jacksonville and St. Johns and Volusia counties. Now there are two.
The active fire count is also down to six, from 16 on June 20.
Still, the positive trend wasn’t enough for the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners to temporarily lift the burn ban for a fireworks show.
Commissioner Barbara Revels broached the subject at a June 27 budget workshop.
“I have had an overwhelming outcry from residents,” Revels said, also citing out-of-towners who made plans prior to the cancellation.
Flagler Beach’s fire chief “has absolutely no problem” shooting fireworks off the Flagler Beach Pier this year, Revels told the board and Flagler County Fire Chief Don Petito.
She asked for Petito’s recommendation.
“I don’t think it would be a problem doing it. But it’s hard for me to say yes with the situation that we’re in,” he said.
At that time, Flagler Beach had received less than two inches of rain. And if an emergency were to occur, Petito added, Flagler Beach would not have the resources necessary to deal with it.
As for fireworks at the Hammock or in Palm Coast, Petito was decisive: “absolutely not.”
Others agreed.
“My opinion still stands very strong,” Commissioner Milissa Holland said. “I just feel it’s not a safe situation at this time.”
George Hanns echoed her concerns.
“Security and safety is (our) command responsibility,” he said. “… We’ve already spent half-a-million dollars.”
“I’d like to see the fireworks too, but if the chief says, in his professional opinion, Flagler Beach doesn’t have the appropriate (equipment) … then I think that puts the entire county at risk,” Board Chairman Alan Peterson said.
The board stood by its decision.
— Brian McMillan contributed to this story.