Our county commissioners have banned fireworks in El Paso county.
Except
Except for “professional shows”.
Another tax burden
Expect our ball park to host some of these “professional shows”. That’s our ball park that is adjacent to Sunset Heights, one of our oldest neighborhoods.
I wonder what it will cost us to have our fire department respond to or be on standby for any fires that may be caused by burning embers landing on those old roofs.
We deserve better
Brutus
elpasospeak 
I am sure that somewhere there is an “insurance” or city/county rule that require the FD to be around professional firework shows.
Our EP FD trains & works hard so they too should enjoy a good “safe & sane ” Fireworks display!!!
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Yea. . . . Really, really, really OLD, dry and crispy homes, just sitting there like ducks, waiting for glowing fireworks to land.
Many of the trees are just as old. The wind at different altitudes blows in different directions and “professional” fireworks goes up pretty high.
But, what does Mountainstar care?
They have insurance, but insurance will not replace all of the lost memories, photos and antique family items that get destroyed by fire.
They just dont care.
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I once saw a professor of desert ecology talk about how that in El Paso country, the vegetation is so sparse that the chances of a REAL fire breaking out due to fireworks is almost nil. Yes, there might be a small brush fire or two, but because there is hardly anything to actually catch fire out there along Montana, it was silly to ban fireworks based on the assumption that a raging inferno might happen.
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Unless you are in an area with structures, like old buildings.
Brutus
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In fact the city permanently bans fireworks within city limits by ordinance (and the county’s ban covers unincorporated areas, for a limited amount of time…I believe the ban expires just before the show at C’Dogs Park).
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One feels dumber just by reading posts and comments like these. The city of El Paso, like most major cities, has banned the sale of personal fireworks for decades. It has always allowed professional fireworks demonstrations.
Texas counties have no real ordinance making powers, so fireworks stands proliferate outside city limits. They can only ban personal fireworks sales during emergency declarations, which is what they’ve done the past few years. Anyone who has ever been out on East Montana on the Fourth of July knows that brush fires burn constantly, with taxpayer-funded volunteer fire departments rushing to put them out. Not exactly the best use of public funds. And no, Helen Marshall, the county ban (which has no effect on professional fireworks shows, anyhow, does not expire “just before” the Chihuahuas games.)
But perhaps the stupidest comments of all deal with the “threat” to Sunset Heights. Professional fireworks shows have been done downtown for decades, without incident. The Sun Bowl and various festivals have done them. The Chihuahuas have already had four fireworks shows on Saturdays this year, and will have shows July 2 and 3. The people of Sunset Heights get a great view of the show, and there’s no “threat” to the neighborhood. The fireworks are set off from the outfield and from the Mills Building garage over the ballpark, and get nowhere near Sunset Heights. If the wind is too strong, the fireworks won’t be shot off.
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Having lived along East Montana for about ten years now, I don’t remember the constant brush fires mentioned earlier here. Matter of fact I can’t recall a single one. At least not one that required a response by the fire department. The few brush fires that did start were out in seconds. Bear in mind there were hundreds of folks out here with their families and kids. All good citizens the US of A.
My neighbors and I used to sit out front along Krag St. and enjoy the show that was going on across the street every 4th. The last few years before the ban I seem to recall a Montana Vista F.D. vehicle parked in the huge lot at the corner of Montana and Krag. But mostly they just seemed to be enjoying the show like every one else.
Fireworks and the 4th of July is indeed an American tradition. An American tradition the Progressives are hell bent on destroying. And of course I mean fireworks in your back yard… but not at the ballpark. A lot of people just can’t stand to see other have a good inexpensive time that isn’t managed and supervised by those who like to think they’re in charge.
I’ve discussed the ban with a lot of people who live out this way and have only found one who agrees with the ban. And he’s a miserable so and so anyway. Shame to see a nice family tradition die because some think “It’s for your own good.” Does anyone seriously believe the fireworks will ever return?
Badco
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