Heatwave, dry conditions put a damper on fireworks fun
Sizzling June temperatures soaring past the century mark have county officials pleading with residents to not do any outdoor burning and to refrain from shooting off fireworks.
"We would strongly recommend that people go see one of the public fireworks displays instead of shooting off their own," said presiding county commissioner Dave Morrison. "At least until we get some rain around here."
Monday, the mercury bubbled well over 100 degrees all over the region. Greg Moss reported 104 degrees at Dawt Mill Monday afternoon. Tina Wallace reported 106 degrees at Thornfield.
"It's getting bad," said Greg Donley, western district commissioner. "We've had some hot days and no rain to speak of." Donley said farmers he's talked to are concerned about the drought.
Patty Donley, co-owner of Gainesville Livestock Auction, called the situation serious for farmers and cattle ranchers. "It's not good at all," she said. "Most farmers are selling off their cattle because there's no grass. It's all burnt up, and they don't want to have to feed hay."
She said the Monday sale at the auction barn saw 1,200-1,300 head, with many going to slaughter. "A lot of our cattle are coming from Arkansas where the conditions are worse than here," she said.
In neighboring Baxter County, Ark., officials have enacted a ban on all outdoor burning. Several other Arkansas counties have done likewise.
Gainesville fire chief Ed Doiron echoed county officials' plea for residents to refrain from shooting off their own fireworks. "It's like a powder keg out there," Doiron said. "The grass and the brush are so dry it just makes no sense to light anything outdoors."
The intense heat and dry conditions are taking their toll on summertime entrepreneurs, too.
"Our sales were doing pretty good until the last few days when the heat really cranked up," said Kimberly Stone, who runs a fireworks tent at the junction of Highway 5 south and U.S. Highway 160 in Gainesville. "It's so hot out here. We go find a cool place when we don't have any customers," she said, pointing to a travel trailer next to the tent.
Theodosia fire chief Norm Jarrett reminded residents that the Theodosia park has a "no-fireworks" ordinance. He also urged people to refrain from shooting off their own fireworks or doing any outdoor burning. He said if people must shoot off fireworks to spray the area down with water and have a water hose handy.
The city of Gainesville also has an ordinance pertaining to fireworks. The ordinance prohibits the discharging of fireworks on any public street, sidewalk or public grounds and any private property within the business district of the city.
State and federal agencies are also getting involved.
The Missouri Department of Conservation is urging people to refrain from shooting off fireworks and any outdoor burning. In addition, MDC officials caution campers about campfires. Fireworks are also prohibited in national forests, including the sections of Mark Twain National Forest in Ozark County.
There's little chance of relief in sight. According to the National Weather Service, temperatures are expected to remain around the 100-degree mark for the next several days with no real chance of rain in sight.