x
Breaking News
More () »

Scott, Johnson Counties Ban Fireworks

Scott County Judge James Forbes and Johnson County Judge Mike Jacobs have issued fireworks bans in their counties due to the extreme heat and dry weather. This ...
fireworks

Scott County Judge James Forbes and Johnson County Judge Mike Jacobs have issued fireworks bans in their counties due to the extreme heat and dry weather.

This means that until the ban is lifted, it will be illegal to discharge fireworks. Both counties are also under burn bans.

Extremely dry weather is expected leading up to the Fourth of July holiday. Forbes says he issued the fireworks ban as a precautionary measure.

“When you’re under a burn ban, because it will be so severe over the next 10 days, it would be dangerous to allow fireworks to be shot in the county,” he said.

Forbes says there have been 15-20 fires in his county in the last month. At least two homes were burned, as well as several acres of grass and hay, he said.

According to Forbes, several people have violated the burn ban.

“Under the Arkansas law, if you allow a fire to start during a burn ban and it gets out, it’s a class A misdemeanor,” Forbes said.

Shooting fireworks in either county could result in a fine or jail time.

Scott County has also cancelled their annual fireworks show.

Judge Jacobs says his county’s fireworks ban does not apply to areas within the city limits of Coal Hill, Hartman, Clarksville, Lamar and Knoxville.  Those areas are governed by Mayors and City Council governments which must issue their own bans.

Both the fireworks bans and burn bans will remain in place until lifted by each county’s judge.

For more information on county burn bans in Arkansas visit http://www.arkfireinfo.org/

Before You Leave, Check This Out