Pop 'em if you got 'em

Looks like it'll be a fireworks-filled Fourth of July after all.

With last week's all-out ban on the sale and possession of fireworks now lifted, Ector County residents can stock up on everything except aerial fireworks, or rockets with sticks and missles with fins, which are still banned.

Sales started at midnight Wednesday after weeks of back-and-forth on a partial ban on poppers to an all-out ban last week, County Judge Susan Redford contacted the governor's office Wednesday to ask him to rescind his drought disaster declaration for Ector County in light of this weekend's wet weather.

He complied, and reversed his extension of Redford's temporary ban on the use, sale and possession of fireworks through midnight on the Fourth. County commissioner Freddie Gardner said Wednesday that sales could start at midnight last night.

"I'm sure we'll be busy the next couple of days," said Ron Davis, an area manager for fireworks seller Mr. W. "Our biggest selling days are the third and Fourth of July. We're still going to lose some money because of the days we missed. I think we can have a decent year though."

Gardner said that while it's possible fireworks might start a few small grassfires here and there, he's no longer concerned about the widespread fires that commissioners and firefighters were envisioning before last weekend's heavy rains.

"The ground seems pretty saturated and still very moist," Gardner said.

Gardner said he's visited with West Odessa Volunteer Fire Department head Jimmy Ellis, and he agrees that there have been times in the past where conditions were drier than they are now and fireworks were sold.

"We just don't feel like the conditions warrant the total ban," Gardner said.

Redford put a 60-hour ban on the sale, use and possession of all fireworks June 24 citing grassfire hazards due to extreme drought. Gov. Rick Perry extended her order through the Fourth of July.

Gardner said the Keetch-Byram Drought Index sits at 575 today, the "magic number" for lifting the county's burn ban, which commissioners will vote on doing in a special meeting Monday.

"I hate it, but they still can't burn their trash until we have our meeting," Gardner said.

Midland, Winkler and Andrews counties' fireworks bans are still on. Ward County's ban was lifted at noon Tuesday, but residents can only set fireworks off at the Ward County Coliseum. Crane County's ban was lifted at 4 p.m. today, and County Judge John Farmer said a popper safe zone has been set up at Tiny Earp Soccer Field by the airport.

That's the only place people can shoot off pyrotechnics in Crane County.

At a news conference Wednesday, Ector County commissioners Gardner and Barbara Graff stressed that residents shouldn't lose their focus on safety and warned that anyone who sets off fireworks in a public road, right of way or on private property without an owner's permission will face fines.

County Sheriff Mark Donaldson said the class C misdemeanor carries a fine of up to $500.