With the Fourth of July just days away, many people in the Big Country are preparing to celebrate with fireworks. Fire officials are encouraging residents to celebrate responsibly by following safety guidelines and taking steps to prevent fires and injuries.
For just a few days every summer, fireworks light up the usually dark West Texas sky. Across the Big Country, families gather in parks, backyards, and at cookouts, and community events to celebrate Independence day.
Nikki, who asked that we just use her first name, has watched the trends for years. Manning the fireworks booth has become part of her family’s annual observance of Independence Day, "This is our 12th year that we've been selling fireworks for TNT. We enjoy coming out here and doing this with our family. Our youngest was a baby when we started this, so she's grown up doing this, and it's just been a lot of fun. It's a family tradition every year.”
In West Texas the hot, dry weather can disrupt celebrations. Last year Taylor County Commissioners instituted a burn ban on July 1st, prompting officials to cancel Abilene’s official fireworks show.
This year local fireworks retailers say they’ve seen an increase in sales.
"They've actually been better this year,” Nikki said. “People are buying more than what they have historically during the first week of the season."
And Nikki says large, aerial fireworks have been most popular this year.
This could be sparked by the historic milestone of this year’s holiday. The Freedom 250 official fireworks show on the National Mall in Washington D.C. aims to break the Guinness World Record by setting off more than 850,000 fireworks.
All of the glittery explosions are not without risk. In 2025 drones malfunctioned at the end of Abilene’s show, sending them crashing to the ground, and igniting a grass fire.
Taylor County is not currently under a burn ban, but Abilene Fire Department Public Information Officer Lindsay Fletcher notes that Saturday's forecast calls for highs near 100 degrees with breezy conditions, which she notes can be dangerous, “It's hot and it's dry. We know even if we tell people not to shoot off fireworks, they’re still gonna do it.”
Local laws ban residents from setting off pyrotechnics inside Abilene city limits. Officials urge residents heading to unincorporated areas for their personal fireworks celebrations to use a little extra caution, even before the first firework is lit.
"Keep your gutters cleaned of any dry leaves or debris in your house. Make sure the area around your house is also clear of that same stuff, flammable things, just so if there are any errant sparks or errant fireworks that come down on your property, it doesn't have a lot to catch,” Fletcher advised.
And safety doesn't end when the fireworks stop. Fletcher says one of the biggest mistakes people make is assuming used fireworks are no longer dangerous. Fletcher says they can stay hot long after the show is over, making proper disposal just as important as preparation.
"You need to have a bucket of water. You need to have a water hose somewhere to make sure all of your old fireworks are really out and really soaked. Make sure they're not still burning."
Retailers like Nikki are also encouraging their shoppers to celebrate responsibly, “Be careful in windy conditions. Make sure that you have some source of water or something close by just in case a fire were to happen. Use safety, make sure your fireworks are set on level ground. Don't put them in rocky or bumpy areas. Try to have it on level ground.”
West Texans always need to be careful not to ignite a grass fire with their fireworks. But the combination of gun powder and carelessness also poses a danger for people.
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that fireworks caused 13,000 injuries last year. With 15 to 24 year olds accounting for the largest share of the reported injuries. AFD officer Lindsay Fletcher says first responders hope to have fewer calls to respond to this year, “Just stay safe. You want it to be fun and you want it to stay fun. You don't want to have to interrupt your night by calling 911 or going to the hospital.”
And it’s not just the Roman candles sending people to the ER. Officials say more than 1,300 injuries involved sparklers last year. While many people think of them as a safer option for children, they can burn at temperatures hot enough to cause serious injuries. Officials urge parents to keep an eye on children with sparklers in order to keep America’s 250th celebration from ending in tears.