Independence Day is shaping up to be picture perfect for local pyrotechnics enthusiasts. No burn bans, fresh rain, and unusually cool temperatures forecast through the holiday weekend should help make this a year to remember.
Ronnie from Bad Boyz says sales are up from last year, which he attributes to the milder weather.
“It’s all for sale,” he explains, “In a burn ban, we have to pull the fireworks that have fins and sticks.
“The fins can melt and catch fire — and can go on to start a bigger fire. Same with these stick rockets. But since there’s no burn ban this time around, everything you see is for sale.”
Ronnie said the big sellers this year are the top-shelf technical offerings, some with more than 300 shots. These range from $200-$400 dollars, depending on options.
His number one seller is the “Marine Life” display.
A Visual Aid for Buyers
As an innovation, Bad Boyz offer their customers videos showing every firework they have for sale in action so customers can watch before they make their selections.
Mary has been busy working the counter and shows me a few of the most popular items: the “SpitFyre Dragon,” “Killer Bee,” “Twister Stix,” and “Space Jets.”
We didn’t see any “Nipsy Daisers” — with or without the scooter stick.
For lovers of childhood mischief, the infamous Black Cats and Cherry Bombs are still on sale as well.
A Word of Caution
Like most Texas kids, we have a lot of fond memories of doing things absolutely not recommended by the manufacturers of these products. We were lucky. Every year, many are not.
Fireworks are explosives, and they are not intended for use by children, and children should only be allowed to use them under strict adult supervision.
According to medical data, nearly 10,000 people are treated in emergency rooms each year for fireworks-related injuries, and most of these happen around July 4.
So, consider taking extra precautions like wearing safety glasses and gloves, and having a fire extinguisher nearby.
Remember friends: USE OF FIREWORKS WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS, OR IN TOM GREEN COUNTY PARKS IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.
