Crosby band readies for fireworks sales on Friday
Friday Eve #FridayEve
While the fireworks season teeters on the edge of cancelation, 100-plus volunteers in the Crosby High School band program get ready to spend some of their summer vacation volunteering at the Top Dog Fireworks Warehouse on 106 Kennings in Crosby near U.S. 90 on Friday when the season officially opens.
The county finds itself in the middle of a week of extreme temperatures, a so-called “ring of fire,” that has almost encapsulated the entire state bringing drought-type weather. Some communities on Tuesday received very brief, 10-minute rain but the high temps linger.
The several days of 100-degree weather in the forecast have caused county fire marshal officials to consider a burn ban across the county.
As of Tuesday, Texas A&M Forest Service was reporting Harris, Montgomery, Fort Bend, Chambers and Brazoria counties as the only counties currently not under a burn ban along the Gulf Coast and surrounded by counties who are under a burn ban.
“The Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office in coordination with multiple county and state stakeholders have been actively monitoring the extended drought conditions and extreme temperatures impacting southeast Texas,” said Harris County Fire Marshal Laurie L. Christensen.
Fireworks Safety Rules
Be sure to know where fireworks can legally be shot. All local cities ban shooting fireworks within their boundaries. Additionally, fireworks may not be shot within 600 feet of a church, hospital, daycare center or school, within 100 feet of a place where flammable liquids or fireworks are stored and may not be thrown from a motor vehicle. Here’s a few more tips:
-Always read and follow label directions.
-Have an adult present. Never give fireworks to small children-fireworks are not toys!
-Always shoot fireworks on level ground away from buildings and vegetation.
-Stay away from illegal explosives. Never experiment or make your own fireworks.
-Always have water handy (a garden hose or a bucket).
-Never try to re-light a “dud” firework. (Wait 15-20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.)
-Light only one firework at a time.
-Never throw or point fireworks at other people.
-Never shoot fireworks in metal or glass containers.
-The shooter should wear eye protection. Never have any part of your body over the firework.
-Dispose of fireworks properly by soaking them in water and then disposing of them in your trash can.
-Do not put fireworks that are still hot in the trash can-this can lead to house fires.
-If necessary to store fireworks, keep them in a cool, dry place.
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While there have been meetings to discuss a ban burn, at this time only a dry weather warning is posted on the site.
“Along with monitoring weather data, the HCFMO monitors response data by unincorporated Fire Departments to outdoor/grass fires. We are working with our media partners through our social media platforms to discuss preparedness and safety tips for concerns over dry conditions,” she said.
A burn ban would end the sale of fireworks and dampen the spirits of band students at Crosby who each fireworks season raise thousands of dollars working at Top Dog Fireworks Warehouse to help support internal programs.
“This helps pay for private lessons teachers, clinicians who come to work with the band, equipment maintenance, or new equipment that we need for marching or concert season,” said Steven Harris, treasurer of the Band Parents Organization at Crosby.
“It also pays for snacks and drinks for the kids throughout the year when they are at contests, or many other activities they participate in each year,” he said.
Harris has been with the organization for five years or 10 fireworks seasons—two each year with New Year’s Eve and Fourth of July.
With fingers crossed, their next season begins Friday, June 24, and runs until midnight on July 4.
It’s not an easy task to run the warehouse, but Harris said they have it down pretty good now after more than a decade of experience.
“It’s quite a feat, let me tell you,” he laughed.
Top Dog Fireworks has 14 warehouses throughout the Houston and Harris County area and typically contract the stores out to nonprofit groups or booster clubs to run the stores including sales, stocking, conducting inventory and cleaning each night.
“We receive a percentage of the profits that are donated then to our nonprofit in return,” he said.
The work is lucrative for the band raising between $60,000 to $70,000 annually.
“It’s our largest fundraiser each year,” he said.
Harris said they didn’t take a big hit during the pandemic as some might have expected.
“With the pandemic, Top Dog was really good about providing items that we needed to operate safely. We had shields in place at all the registers, masks for our volunteers, and tons of hand sanitizer available,” Harris said.
They took precautions doing an intense cleaning of the store daily.
“I think people were sitting at home wanting something to do and our stores were open and available. We didn’t have any issues with inventory coming from overseas,” he explained.
Harris said there are no supply issues for them right now.
“We’ve got tons and tons of product in the store. So much so they had to take some back to storage,” he smiled.
Harris said they ask the students to work a minimum of three shifts, each shift roughly about four hours or a total of 12 hours per season.
The cash influx means some of the lowest band fees in the state.
Some students enjoy it so much they work extra hours to help, and Harris said there were additional benefits.
“They learn a lot of things about how to run a business in a sales retail environment that will help them in their future,” he said. Harris and the organization track the volunteer hours that can be used on their college applications as community service.
The board members serve as managers for the short-term biz and help schedule the volunteers. By state law, no one under 16 years of age can handle pre-sold fireworks.
“We use our older students for stocking while our younger students help as store greeters, cash register sales, mopping and sweeping, taking out the trash or putting out the sales flags,” he said.
The store opens on Friday at 10 a.m. and closes at 10 p.m. from June 24 through June 28. Hours get longer on June 29 from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. through July 2. On July 2 and 3, they will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. On July 4, they will open from 9 a.m. to midnight. State law prohibits any sales after midnight on July 4.
Harris said they will have sales on from July 24 through July 1 at 25 percent off, plus many rewards and prizes including some buy one, get one free deals.
Customers typically spend anywhere from $100 to $150 early in the season, then on the later days, a sale averages closer to $500.
“That’s because they usually spend big bucks on the party packs,” he said.
For customers who aren’t familiar with the old or new stock, Harris said the store is equipped with video screens where a customer can scan the firework and it appears on the screen allowing them to see what it does before they buy.
“It’s like an in-store price check scanner. It really helps us with sales,” he said. It’s a nice advantage they hold over their roadside stand competitors.
There are two more warehouses on the east side of Harris County that are managed by nonprofits. The North Shore Senior High School band manages the warehouse at 14424 I-10 east in North Shore. The Atascocita warehouse at 4725 Atascocita Road is managed by the Huffman Hargrave Project Graduation.
Harris hoped for the sake of all the charities, the heat wave wouldn’t cancel their fundraising plans.
dtaylor@hcnonline.com