Grass Fire

[jlbates]

[JKTex]

Good lord, that's bigger than I imagined. It's obvious by the shape it wasn't far from being out of control, quick.

The Day after pictures of the "Mound" in FM are worse than I thought too. It too got very close to the houses on the east side.

Not long after that FMFD responded to a house fire that turned out to have been stopped before it got the house. It too was fireworks and luckily only burned some families front yard.

So far I've heard of 5 fires that were reported and/or responded to. And 1 or 2 that may or may not have.

Good pictures as usual Al!

[slider701]

I have a cool app for my iPhone called 5.0 Radio. Basically it is a free police scanner with live feed. They also have an app that costs money that gets you more stations.

I was listening to Denton Co. Sheriff, fire/ems last night after midnight and boy were they busy throughout Denton County with grass fires started from fireworks, drunk drivers and bar fights. I listened to it for about an hour and it was quite entertaining!

[Common Sense Al]

I have a cool app for my iPhone called 5.0 Radio. Basically it is a free police scanner with live feed. They also have an app that costs money that gets you more stations.

I was listening to Denton Co. Sheriff, fire/ems last night after midnight and boy were they busy throughout Denton County with grass fires started from fireworks, drunk drivers and bar fights. I listened to it for about an hour and it was quite entertaining!

Very interesting! I'm downloading it now.

My father use to like to listen to this stuff, and my sister's fiance (who is also a volunteer firefighter in Justin) likes to listen to this stuff too. I will have to ask him if he knows about this app.

[JKTex]

I've got a Scanner app for Android as well. It's not perfect since those apps rely on people that have radios and broadcast for the feed, but you get a good idea what's going on.

Also, be aware there are laws regarding when and where you can listen. Depending on local laws, it's often illegal to listen when you're in a car. Some laws may be more specific, but the spirit is not to allow people to use scanners to make committing crimes easier or draw attention enough to have people trying to go to the scene of an incident out of curiosity and make things worse.

[admin]

It's been interesting to read comments by outraged Lantana residents on FB the past 48 hours calling for the HOA to enact a fireworks ban. I piped in to tell them that the HOA cannot ban fireworks. If it were that easy, the HOA would have banned them on Day 1 of the development 10 years ago.

Truth is that only towns and cities can permanently ban fireworks within their borders. Counties cannot and HOA's can't either. Once again, FWSD's are in the unfortunate situation of being a high-density community in an unincorporated area of the county with little or no legislation addressing our public safety needs.

[Common Sense Al]

Truth is that only towns and cities can permanently ban fireworks within their borders. Counties cannot and HOA's can't either. Once again, FWSD's are in the unfortunate situation of being a high-density community in an unincorporated area of the county with little or no legislation addressing our public safety needs.

Since HOAs can apparently regulate just about anything you do at your house that is visible to others, including one's holiday decorations (like requiring only white, non-blinking lights), then why can't they ban fireworks? What law prevents them from doing so?

And even if they can't legally ban it, why not ban it anyway, even if it is unenforceable, like they do with solicitors? It might help...

And it might help to warn people that they could be held civilly liable for any injury or damage to person or property.

Of course there will always be stupid people who will do it no matter what but that's no excuse for not doing anything.

It is indeed scary how irresponsible people were... there were many fires that could have burned down homes if they weren't extinguished in time or if people weren't at home to put them out.

[Common Sense Al]

Ahh! Found a Texas HOA that bans fireworks:
http://www.steinerranchhoa.org/index.ph ... 3&Itemid=1

All homeowners are reminded that Section 2.14 of the Steiner Ranch Master Association Development Area Declaration and Section 3.13 of the Steiner Ranch Residential Owners Association Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions (CC&R’s) titled Hazardous Activities SPECIFICALLY forbid fireworks within Steiner Ranch, unless prior written board approval has been granted for professional pyrotechnic shows meeting all mandated safety requirements.

There are a number of reasons for this prohibition.

The usage of increasingly powerful fireworks places homes at serious risk of fire.The topography and green space of Steiner Ranch is conducive to major fires.

They warn for the first violation and fine $250 for the 2nd... repeated violations are $500.

[slider701]

Ahh! Found a Texas HOA that bans fireworks:
http://www.steinerranchhoa.org/index.ph ... 3&Itemid=1

All homeowners are reminded that Section 2.14 of the Steiner Ranch Master Association Development Area Declaration and Section 3.13 of the Steiner Ranch Residential Owners Association Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions (CC&R’s) titled Hazardous Activities SPECIFICALLY forbid fireworks within Steiner Ranch, unless prior written board approval has been granted for professional pyrotechnic shows meeting all mandated safety requirements.

There are a number of reasons for this prohibition.

The usage of increasingly powerful fireworks places homes at serious risk of fire.The topography and green space of Steiner Ranch is conducive to major fires.

Just because one HOA has it doesn't necessarily make it legal or enforceable.

[Common Sense Al]

Just because one HOA has it doesn't necessarily make it legal or enforceable.

No, but it should be looked into. I'll email Bruce.

[admin]

Since HOAs can apparently regulate just about anything you do at your house that is visible to others, including one's holiday decorations (like requiring only white, non-blinking lights), then why can't they ban fireworks? What law prevents them from doing so?

And even if they can't legally ban it, why not ban it anyway, even if it is unenforceable, like they do with solicitors? It might help...

I was told by Bruce that the HOA cannot prohibit fireworks. But let's say that they try to anyway. How would they enforce it? The staff works 8 to 5 Mon-Fri. Will we add $ to our dues for an overnight HOA patrol? Even then, all they could do is send you a letter. No one gets arrested for breaking HOA rules.

BTW, you may have noticed that they took down the "No Soliciting" signs because they could not legally enforce it.

I think Lantana residents put a little too much faith in the HOA to solve all of our problems.

[admin]

Ahh! Found a Texas HOA that bans fireworks:
http://www.steinerranchhoa.org/index.ph ... 3&Itemid=1

I believe that Steiner Ranch is in the City of Austin (which can ban fireworks) vs. an unincorporated area like Lantana sits in.

[Common Sense Al]

I was told by Bruce that the HOA cannot prohibit fireworks.

Where did he get his information? HOA's can almost regulate the type of toilet paper people use.

But let's say that they try to anyway. How would they enforce it? The staff works 8 to 5 Mon-Fri. Will we add $ to our dues for an overnight HOA patrol? Even then, all they could do is send you a letter. No one gets arrested for breaking HOA rules.

Why not have someone from the staff work nights on July 4th and New Year's Eve and any other nights that are conducive to fireworks... that would only by a few nights per year. Lantana could 'advertise' to residents a phone number to report violations to the staff on duty. Such 'advertisement' to report fireworks would also serve as a reminder of the dangers and as a deterrent and that people are watching. It should not cost much if it is only done a couple nights a year... and could even pay for itself if people get fines. I like the way the HOA I mentioned previously first warns, then fines $250, then $500. Of course they could not arrest people but that is no reason not to act.

BTW, you may have noticed that they took down the "No Soliciting" signs because they could not legally enforce it.

Interesting... I assumed it was still there, though don't recall seeing it recently.

I think Lantana residents put a little too much faith in our HOA to solve all of our problems.

I'd rather the HOA solve this problem than the problem of using the wrong color of fence stain.

[Common Sense Al]

I believe that Steiner Ranch is in the City of Austin (which can ban fireworks) vs. an unincorporated area like Lantana sits in.

But does that matter? It's still an HOA ban, and the HOA still gives out the fines.

[crf0031]

As a new resident to Lantana, I am absolutely surprised and disturbed by lack of public safety in our development.
A contractor was working on a new house past midnight the other night and it took 2 calls to the Denton County Sheriff along with threats to get them out here. They did absolutely nothing, said there we no laws against working 24/7. They did not check any IDs or run a report on the vehicle the workers were driving, who knows if they had committed any crimes and were wanted.
The police departments for Copper Canyon & Double Oak wait outside our borders and easily write tickets for basic infractions which bring them massive revenue, while we pay our HOA to mow grass.
The fireworks usage is completely unbelievable, as our HOA controls landscaping, fence color, etc and takes a complete hands-off approach to public safety.
Pass an ordinance and let the criminals who insist on shooting fireworks spend their money trying to get it overturned.
What stops people from shooting firearms off in Lantana? Will the HOA disappear on that issue as well?