Fireworks shows scheduled for this weekend; officials urge caution for personal fireworks use
Breckenridge and Stephens County will celebrate Independence Day with two community fireworks show, and although fireworks are on sale in the county, local officials want to remind residents and visitors that it is illegal to use fireworks in the city limits.
Additionally, Stephens County is under a burn ban. The burn ban does not prohibit the use of legal fireworks in the county, but some restrictions do apply and caution is advised.
Community Fireworks Shows
Stowe’s Independent Services, a local business owned by David and Lisa Stowe, is teaming up with the Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce to present a Community Fireworks Show at Hubbard Creek Lake on Saturday, July 3, in celebration of Independence Day. On Sunday, July 4, Kent Thompson and his Canyon Road Barn and Grill restaurant, 5790 FM 3418, will host the fifth annual “Salute in the Salt Flats” fireworks show.
Stowe’s Independent Services is sponsoring the fireworks portion of the event, and the Chamber has organized food and beverage vendors to be on-site. Additionally, the Chamber will have a booth selling a variety of festive items, such as glow sticks, temporary tattoos, light-up Fourth of July toys, etc.
The Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce and the food vendors will be set up from 5 to 10 p.m. near the swimming area, in the Corley’s Ramp (aka Game Warden’s Ramp) area off of CR 277. Three food vendors are scheduled for the event, El Patio De Luna, Pit Boss and United Supermarket.
The event will be free and open to the public, and the fireworks show is scheduled to start at dark, about 9:30 p.m.
Donations are being accepted to help pay for the cost of the fireworks. To make a donation, fill out the form (click here) and take it to the Chamber at 100 E. Elm St. or mail it to David Stowe at Stowe’s Independent Services at 1806 U.S. Highway 180 East, Breckenridge, TX 76424. Donations also will be accepted at the fireworks show.
For more information, call the Chamber at 254-559-2301.
The fifth annual Salute in the Salt Flats fireworks show will be free to the public, but donations will be accepted for area volunteer fire departments in Stephens County and the Woodson VFD.
Local laws
According to the Breckenridge City Ordinance, it is illegal “to sell, give away, or otherwise dispose of, or to shoot or discharge” any type of firework, including firecrackers. To read the ordinance, click here and scroll down to Section 9-7.
On Monday, June 28, the Stephens County Commissioners Court reinstated the burn ban for 90 days. However, the burn ban does not restrict the use of fireworks on private property in the unincorporated areas of Stephens County.
Although fireworks are allowed on private property in the county, Calvin Chaney, who serves as both the Breckenridge Fire Chief and the Stephens County Fire Marshal, encourages anyone using fireworks to do so with extreme caution. Anyone planning to use fireworks needs to have water nearby to put out any sparks and an adult needs to be on-site to supervise, he said in a post on Facebook.
Additionally, he advises that anyone using fireworks call 9-1-1 immediately if they need help and to know the address of where they are, since cell phones may not provide accurate locations to the emergency dispatchers.
The burn ban prohibits all outdoor burning in the county with a few exceptions, such as firefighter training, prescribed burns, etc. For more information, call the Breckenridge Fire Department at 254-559-6242.
