Lake Worth Volunteer Fire Department Fireworks Stand

Creator

Preview

Identifier

20124436

Description

Fireman's Fireworks Stand Sets Off Some Questions A fireworks stand on the Jacksboro Highway is raising some eyebrows in Fort Worth. It is operated by the Lake Worth Volunteer Fire Department. Fireworks are sold for a profit. The sale of fireworks in suburban communities has long drawn criticism from Fort Worth fireman and police. The city officials label the explosives both a source of fire and personal injury. The Tarrant County Volunteer Firefighters Association sharply criticized the sale of fireworks July 4 after a fireblamed on fireworksswept hundreds of acres of grassland around Benbrook Lake. During the last session of the Legislature, Tarrant County Fire Marshal Mason Lankford went to Austin in his position as president of the Texas Fireman's and Fire Marshals' Association to ask the lawmakers to outlw the indiscriminate sale of fireworks. The Legislature passed a watered-down fireworks bill. It later became law without the signature of Governor Daniel. Lake Worth officials hedged when questioned about the sale of firecrackers. Said Mayor J. H. Pyeatt: "I don't care to discuss the matter... we figure the fire department can run its business and, and the city can run its own." Said Assistant Fire Chief Odis Loudermilk: "If you will come to city hall in the morning, we'll discuss it with you...I don't want to make any statement without talking to the fire marshal." Fire Marshal Gene Ritchmond was reported in Dallas Monday night, and could not be reached by the Star-Telegram. Loudermilk said, "We make a fair profit." It was also Loudermilk's opinion that if "we (the firemen) didn't sell them, someone else would... we use the profit to buy new equipment to fight fires with." The Star-Telegram was told that the municipality has an elastic ordinance permitting the sale of fireworks when fireworks stands are open.

Archival Date

1958-12-29

Collection Name

Fort Worth Star-Telegram Collection

Collection Number

AR406-6-180

Original Format

Negatives, Black & White

File Format

JPG

Rights

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License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

Subjects

Fire Department; Fireworks