Commissioners ban use of specific fireworks through July 5

At an emergency hearing of the Bandera County Commissioners' Court on June 14, the county commissioners approved the ban of specific fireworks in all of the unincorporated areas of Bandera County.

Per the order, a person may not sell, detonate, ignite, or in any way use fireworks classified as skyrockets with sticks or missiles with fins in any portion of the unincorporated areas of Bandera County.

This order, which expires on July 5, 2022, does not prohibit permissible fireworks as authorized in the Occupations Code Section 2154.003 (a), which are classified as 1.4G.

On the heels of the Texas Forest Service’s determination that drought conditions exist in Bandera County, the Commissioners' Court is likewise resolved that the normal danger of fire in the unincorporated regions of Bandera County is greatly enhanced by the extremely dry conditions that currently exist.

Commissioner Jody Rutherford evoked a notice to the public to be extra cautious with fireworks, given the nature of extremely dry conditions in Bandera County.

Rutherford further stressed that local welders be in particularly careful, as sparks from their welding tools can and do cause fires.

Fire Marshal Jason Rutherford added, “What they don’t understand is that with winds at 30 miles per hour, the sparks are going over there, while the spotter is right here by the welder.”