Sarasota Co. Sheriff Kurt Hottfman joins Maverick & Lulu to talk Burn Ban, and No Personal Fireworks, being allowed over JUly 4th Weekend.
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
It's a maverickan Lulu.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
It's CTQ ninety two to one and one O three one.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Well, we're going into the fourth of July weekend, America's
two hundred and fiftieth birthday, and as everyone knows, Sarasota
and Manatee County under a burn band. We are the
two driest counties in the state of Florida. And I
saw the other day Sara Soda County Fire Department say,
you know, under the burn band you can't shoot off
personal fireworks even if you can buy them, doesn't mean
(00:25):
you can shoot them off during a burn band. So
I thought, you know what, who better to talk to
than the Sheriff of Sarasota County about this, Sheriff Kurt Hoffman.
And the sheriff has joined us this morning.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Good morning, Sheriff, Good mornings of both for having me on.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Absolutely so Sheriff walk us through this. America's two fifties
a big deal. Lou and I are both Patriots, as
I know you are. Fireworks a big deal obviously this weekend,
but can't shoot them off? Is that right for this weekend?
As long as we're under a burn band?
Speaker 3 (00:53):
That is correct? So We've got two kind of ordinances
and statutes in play here, one defining what fireworks are
and when you can use fireworks, and the other one,
which is really more pertinent to our discussion, is the
county ordinance on burnband, and so we've got to make
sure that we're adhering to that because, as you mentioned,
we're one of the driest counties, if not the driest.
And I'll just tell your listeners, I'm as patriotic as
(01:15):
the next guy, and we want people to enjoy themselves
this Fourth of July. But we've had several fires, either
by a lightning or accident already set this year. I
know my aviation unit has dropped hundreds of buckets of
water on fires already. So while I understand this may
put a crimpin some folks week in, what we don't
want to do is put first responders at risk, put
(01:36):
your neighbors at risk, and start a fire on the
two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of our country That could
lead to tragic consequences. So we are taking this seriously.
We've instructed our deputies how to deal with this, and
under the burn band they are our criminal penalties.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Wow are sparklers considered hazardous during this time.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
They are, so Sarasota County has put out a directive
on that if you go to scgov dot net you
can get that information. Sparkler's A lot of people don't
realize sparkles burn it over one thousand degrees, some as
high as twelve hundred degrees, So those dropped in the
grass or dropped in the brush anywhere, or if they're
thrown could easily start a fire. And I've lived here
(02:15):
forty three years and I've never seen it this dry,
with this many fires. And so we're trying to make
sure that this holiday weekend we don't have any tragedies
and we don't have anybody hurt, and we'll get back
to normal once we lift this bern band. But right
now it's dangerous, so we're gonna, you know, triage those
calls Lulu Maverick if it comes in that you know
(02:36):
there's large firework displays, personal fireworks displays, or someplace where
a fire has been started, or somewhere where people are
using it in what we call a criminal mischief kind
of manners, shooting at each other, which is typically what
we can see some of those kind of cases, we're
going to probably address those as priority one calls, and
then the rest of them we're just gonna have to triage.
It's going to be hundreds of calls typically on the
(02:58):
fourth of July for us. But it's most important this
year that we educate folks and there will be some
enforcement action as well, both from the Sheriff's office and
the fire department.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
Well, what's important, and we're talking to Sarah City County
Sheriff Kurt Hoffman. Under the burn band, you are not
allowed to shoot off personal fireworks this holiday weekend. And
I know Sheriff in terms of you triaging, there have
been issues in the past where people are shooting them
off and they're landing on people's roofs, and I think
that's one of those situations you're talking about, especially if
we've got older neighbors that haven't cleaned out gutters, that
(03:30):
can certainly turn into a tragedy quickly.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
Yeah, where typically you see some folks that have a
larger area and they've purchased the fireworks legally. This is
one of the exceptions in the statute as certain holidays,
and this is one of those. But the burn band
will trump all of that, But to your point, mav
if one of those lands on somebody's roof, in a tree,
in your neighbor's yard or whatever, it's more than likely
(03:52):
we're going to have some fires in residential neighborhoods close
up to properties, and that's what we don't want to
have to have. I've seen just with some minor lightning strikes,
particularly in the southern end of the county. I think
the last fire we had down here off River Road
was two hundred and fifty acres before our aviation in
forestry could get it under control. In a residential neighborhood,
(04:12):
it spreads a lot faster, and that's dangerous because people's
lives concertainly be put in peril before we let you go, Sheriff.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
There are penalties, fines and criminal charges for violating the
burn band with fireworks.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
This weekend sure, and we typically we issue a few
of those. This year, we're going to focus specifically on
burn band and the fire Department's going to be out
there with us. They've been educating and they're also going
to go out and be on some of the calls
as well. So let's just have a peaceful, happy uneventful
fourth of July. We're not trying to run anybody's fund.
We're actually trying to keep everybody safe. But I think
(04:46):
it's prudent that the county has done it. And obviously
we've seen fire spread quickly this year, and this will
be the time of the year where you're going to
get those fireworks, probably in the residential neighborhoods, and that's
what we're primarily concerned about. Will pay you a visit.
We typically try to educate people before we enforce, but
we need folks cooperations so that we're not taxing law
enforcement and fire services. We already have a very busy
(05:10):
long weekend ahead of us for a variety of reasons.
This is a celebration of our country, and there'll be
other things going on that we'll have to probably intervene on.
So please don't make your neighbor's house catching on fire
be one of those things we have to respond to.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Exactly. And while we have you speaking of this all
important celebration happening this weekend for our country, besides the fireworks,
what are some of the other biggest safety issues that
you expect.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
That's a good question, obviously, if you're going to consume alcohol,
please don't drive. Our highways are going to be busy,
Our roadways are going to be busy. People are going
to be traveling to visit relatives. We've put several public
safety announcements out. Don't drink and drive. It's as simple
as that. And in this day and age, it's too
easy with breeze transportation, with uber, with getting a designated driver.
(05:55):
Please don't drink and drive. We've had already several fatalities
and Arisota County in twenty twenty six. We don't need
to add to that. So that is a side issue
that we definitely deal with around the holidays, and the
fourth of July is no exception, So please don't do that.
The other thing is, remember there are several public displays
of fireworks and people say, well, how can they do it,
(06:16):
and we can't do it in our backyard. Those have
pyrotechnic professionals. They've got to permit and they are allowed
to do that based on the inspection of where they're doing.
And I know CSD key will have it obviously up
in Benderson. There's several schedule for Manatee in Charlotte Counties
as well, So drive your family to one of those,
get a designated driver, don't set them off in your backyard,
(06:36):
and we'll all have a safe fourth.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
July, Sara, Soida County Sheriff Kurt Hoffman, thank you for
the time, thanks for the clarity, and thank you for
all that you and your team are going to do
this holiday weekend and every single day.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
Sheriff, you are welcome, be safe out there. To all
your listeners, thank you, Sheriff
It's a maverickan Lulu.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
It's CTQ ninety two to one and one O three one.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Well, we're going into the fourth of July weekend, America's
two hundred and fiftieth birthday, and as everyone knows, Sarasota
and Manatee County under a burn band. We are the
two driest counties in the state of Florida. And I
saw the other day Sara Soda County Fire Department say,
you know, under the burn band you can't shoot off
personal fireworks even if you can buy them, doesn't mean
(00:25):
you can shoot them off during a burn band. So
I thought, you know what, who better to talk to
than the Sheriff of Sarasota County about this, Sheriff Kurt Hoffman.
And the sheriff has joined us this morning.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Good morning, Sheriff, Good mornings of both for having me on.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Absolutely so Sheriff walk us through this. America's two fifties
a big deal. Lou and I are both Patriots, as
I know you are. Fireworks a big deal obviously this weekend,
but can't shoot them off? Is that right for this weekend?
As long as we're under a burn band?
Speaker 3 (00:53):
That is correct? So We've got two kind of ordinances
and statutes in play here, one defining what fireworks are
and when you can use fireworks, and the other one,
which is really more pertinent to our discussion, is the
county ordinance on burnband, and so we've got to make
sure that we're adhering to that because, as you mentioned,
we're one of the driest counties, if not the driest.
And I'll just tell your listeners, I'm as patriotic as
(01:15):
the next guy, and we want people to enjoy themselves
this Fourth of July. But we've had several fires, either
by a lightning or accident already set this year. I
know my aviation unit has dropped hundreds of buckets of
water on fires already. So while I understand this may
put a crimpin some folks week in, what we don't
want to do is put first responders at risk, put
(01:36):
your neighbors at risk, and start a fire on the
two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of our country That could
lead to tragic consequences. So we are taking this seriously.
We've instructed our deputies how to deal with this, and
under the burn band they are our criminal penalties.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Wow are sparklers considered hazardous during this time.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
They are, so Sarasota County has put out a directive
on that if you go to scgov dot net you
can get that information. Sparkler's A lot of people don't
realize sparkles burn it over one thousand degrees, some as
high as twelve hundred degrees, So those dropped in the
grass or dropped in the brush anywhere, or if they're
thrown could easily start a fire. And I've lived here
(02:15):
forty three years and I've never seen it this dry,
with this many fires. And so we're trying to make
sure that this holiday weekend we don't have any tragedies
and we don't have anybody hurt, and we'll get back
to normal once we lift this bern band. But right
now it's dangerous, so we're gonna, you know, triage those
calls Lulu Maverick if it comes in that you know
(02:36):
there's large firework displays, personal fireworks displays, or someplace where
a fire has been started, or somewhere where people are
using it in what we call a criminal mischief kind
of manners, shooting at each other, which is typically what
we can see some of those kind of cases, we're
going to probably address those as priority one calls, and
then the rest of them we're just gonna have to triage.
It's going to be hundreds of calls typically on the
(02:58):
fourth of July for us. But it's most important this
year that we educate folks and there will be some
enforcement action as well, both from the Sheriff's office and
the fire department.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
Well, what's important, and we're talking to Sarah City County
Sheriff Kurt Hoffman. Under the burn band, you are not
allowed to shoot off personal fireworks this holiday weekend. And
I know Sheriff in terms of you triaging, there have
been issues in the past where people are shooting them
off and they're landing on people's roofs, and I think
that's one of those situations you're talking about, especially if
we've got older neighbors that haven't cleaned out gutters, that
(03:30):
can certainly turn into a tragedy quickly.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
Yeah, where typically you see some folks that have a
larger area and they've purchased the fireworks legally. This is
one of the exceptions in the statute as certain holidays,
and this is one of those. But the burn band
will trump all of that, But to your point, mav
if one of those lands on somebody's roof, in a tree,
in your neighbor's yard or whatever, it's more than likely
(03:52):
we're going to have some fires in residential neighborhoods close
up to properties, and that's what we don't want to
have to have. I've seen just with some minor lightning strikes,
particularly in the southern end of the county. I think
the last fire we had down here off River Road
was two hundred and fifty acres before our aviation in
forestry could get it under control. In a residential neighborhood,
(04:12):
it spreads a lot faster, and that's dangerous because people's
lives concertainly be put in peril before we let you go, Sheriff.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
There are penalties, fines and criminal charges for violating the
burn band with fireworks.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
This weekend sure, and we typically we issue a few
of those. This year, we're going to focus specifically on
burn band and the fire Department's going to be out
there with us. They've been educating and they're also going
to go out and be on some of the calls
as well. So let's just have a peaceful, happy uneventful
fourth of July. We're not trying to run anybody's fund.
We're actually trying to keep everybody safe. But I think
(04:46):
it's prudent that the county has done it. And obviously
we've seen fire spread quickly this year, and this will
be the time of the year where you're going to
get those fireworks, probably in the residential neighborhoods, and that's
what we're primarily concerned about. Will pay you a visit.
We typically try to educate people before we enforce, but
we need folks cooperations so that we're not taxing law
enforcement and fire services. We already have a very busy
(05:10):
long weekend ahead of us for a variety of reasons.
This is a celebration of our country, and there'll be
other things going on that we'll have to probably intervene on.
So please don't make your neighbor's house catching on fire
be one of those things we have to respond to.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Exactly. And while we have you speaking of this all
important celebration happening this weekend for our country, besides the fireworks,
what are some of the other biggest safety issues that
you expect.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
That's a good question, obviously, if you're going to consume alcohol,
please don't drive. Our highways are going to be busy,
Our roadways are going to be busy. People are going
to be traveling to visit relatives. We've put several public
safety announcements out. Don't drink and drive. It's as simple
as that. And in this day and age, it's too
easy with breeze transportation, with uber, with getting a designated driver.
(05:55):
Please don't drink and drive. We've had already several fatalities
and Arisota County in twenty twenty six. We don't need
to add to that. So that is a side issue
that we definitely deal with around the holidays, and the
fourth of July is no exception, So please don't do that.
The other thing is, remember there are several public displays
of fireworks and people say, well, how can they do it,
(06:16):
and we can't do it in our backyard. Those have
pyrotechnic professionals. They've got to permit and they are allowed
to do that based on the inspection of where they're doing.
And I know CSD key will have it obviously up
in Benderson. There's several schedule for Manatee in Charlotte Counties
as well, So drive your family to one of those,
get a designated driver, don't set them off in your backyard,
(06:36):
and we'll all have a safe fourth.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
July, Sara, Soida County Sheriff Kurt Hoffman, thank you for
the time, thanks for the clarity, and thank you for
all that you and your team are going to do
this holiday weekend and every single day.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
Sheriff, you are welcome, be safe out there. To all
your listeners, thank you, Sheriff
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