Tyler Morning Telegraph

By KELLY GOOCH
Staff Writer

While some residents are busy this week returning gifts, Julie Lindsey is buying gifts to help others ring in the New Year with flare and fireworks.

The Tyler resident, who works as a manager with Jordan Health Services, set out with co-worker Allison Taucher on Tuesday to buy fireworks to be put inside goodie bags for nurses, social workers and others she works with so they feel appreciated. The bags will contain items that are fun and harmless such as sparklers and little smoke bombs, Ms. Lindsey said.

“It’s just something that we’ve always done, and it’s a little treat people enjoy receiving,” she said after buying fireworks at Pappy’s Fireworks on Spur 248. “It just kind of brightens their day.”

Ms. Lindsey and Ms. Taucher are just some of the residents who will purchase fireworks for the upcoming New Year holiday, sales that were threatened by the past year’s drought, which resulted in burn bans. Many of the bans, including in Smith County, have been lifted.

Business was down as the winter firework selling season began earlier this month, but suppliers expect people to show up later this week to make their New Year’s purchases.

On Monday afternoon, at least several Tyler locations had not had a buyer come by, which sellers attributed to rain and it being the day after Christmas.

Sales typically open up on Dec. 20 or Dec. 21 and run through the first of the year. In the summer, sales take place in late June and early July leading up to the Fourth of July holiday.

Dominique Garcia, general manager at Best Buy Fireworks on Spur 364, said sales in general aren’t as good this year as they have been in previous years.

“The drought’s been so terrible,” she said. “We usually do well in July and New Year’s, but this year is slower (because of) the economy and drought. …

“Sales have just dropped a lot because of the drought we went through. I think the economy is picking up slowly, but it’s going to take time.”

Each year, the store likely sells about 10 cases of fireworks in the winter, she said, and she expects this year to end up at the same amount. New Year’s typically brings in about $18,000 for the store.

At Pappy’s Fireworks on Spur 364, manager Jonathan Edwards said business has been OK.

“The weather’s been messing us up, but hopefully by the end of this week, things will be dry and make up for it all,” he said Monday.

The stand usually sells most of its stock, including the popular artillery shells.

Edwards said he does not believe the drought has had an impact on winter sales, but the stand limited fireworks it sold this summer. Even so, he said summer sales, which are typically double winter sales, were not that different from previous years.

Cindy Rice, whose son owns Lone Star Fireworks off of Spur 248, said Monday that business was slow, but it always is around Christmas. She didn’t expect sales to pick up until Thursday. At the Lone Star stand, about $8,000 worth of fireworks is sold for New Year’s, and Ms. Rice hopes for the same this year.

She said the drought already affected summer sales, which did not include rockets and missiles because of area burn bans. The stand likely sold about $10,000 less in sales this summer compared to previous years.

“People were so afraid of the drought,” Ms. Rice said. But for New Year’s, she said she doesn’t think people will be as afraid to shoot fireworks because of the rain that has come to East Texas.

For those who do buy fireworks, fire and firework store officials have some safety advice.

Ms. Garcia said residents should make sure they’re in a well-open area that has received rain. That way, the ground is damp and a fire potential is minimized.

She also advised residents to make sure water is on hand.

Smith County Assistant Fire Marshal Oren Hale said all fireworks should be used by adults or with adult supervision.

Although the county is in fairly good condition because of recent rain, people also still need to be careful where they shoot fireworks, he said.

Residents should not shoot fireworks toward a house or building, and the area should be cleared of tall grass and debris, Hale said.