Sullivan said he and his firefighters have enjoyed something of a lull in the number of wildfires they've had to fight compared to the same time last year thanks to recent showers.

“We really haven't been getting any drenching rains, but what we have been getting is enough to help lower the risk quite a bit,” said Sullivan. “This time last year we were really running around trying to keep things under control, so we're extremely thankful for the help from Mother Nature.”

While the rains have helped give Sullivan and county firefighters at least a small rest — something he said was most welcome after the rash of wildfires experienced earlier in the year — the fire chief warned area residents of becoming careless.

“The stuff out there will still burn, make no mistake about that,” said Sullivan. “It's just not as bad as it's been in the past. With the July 4 holiday coming up, we're still very concerned about the fireworks and what kind of damage they could do. Right now we're sitting at a moderate to high risk factor, so it could get worse pretty quick.”

Sullivan said he doesn't expect the county to push for a fireworks ban — an idea that failed during last year's Independence Day season — or burn ban this year until after the July 4 holiday, if at all.

“I really don't see a fireworks ban at this point,” he said. “We know there are going to be fires and we're ready to respond to them. However, I don't see us having to ask for a fireworks ban or a burn ban until after the holiday, and that's only if we hit a dry spell and conditions get worse.”

And while the lack of a fireworks or burn ban in Howard County during the holiday could conceivably result in more fires, Sullivan said lawbreakers should know he and law enforcement officials will have zero-tolerance for “boneheaded” mistakes.

“Regardless of whether there's a ban in place or not, we will operate on a zero-tolerance basis when it comes to fires,” he said firmly. “If your mistake results in the loss of someone else's property, you're looking at a charge of reckless endangerment and a $500 fine. And if you're caught popping fireworks by the side of the road, regardless of whether or not it causes a fire, you're looking at a fine.

“We don't have a lot of patience when it comes to this, and the boneheads who make these kinds of dumb mistakes are going to pay for them.”

Contact Staff Writer Thomas Jenkins at 263-7331 ext. 232 or by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it