Wilson County disaster declaration: No aerial fireworks sales

GREGORY RIPPS/Wilson County News
Wilson County Judge Richard L. “Dickie” Jackson announces a disaster declaration that bans using “restricted fireworks” and aerial and display fireworks within the county.

The sale and use of fireworks will be further restricted in Wilson County July 2-5 due to a disaster declaration.

County Judge Richard L. “Dickie” Jackson declared the state of disaster Wednesday morning, citing “major drought conditions [causing] a great risk of conflagrations which will tax local first responders.”

The declaration prohibits selling or using not only of “restricted fireworks” — defined in the Texas Government Code as “skyrockets with sticks” and “missiles with fins” — but also “all aerial or display fireworks, which includes any pyrotechnic that fires projectiles into the air,” such as Roman candles, floral and aerial barrage fireworks, and more.

The prohibition will cover a 60-hour period beginning Saturday, July 2, at 4 p.m. and ending Tuesday, July 5, at 4 a.m. During this period, local law enforcement will be authorized to enforce the ban.

The disaster declaration will not apply to the fireworks displays after dark in Floresville July 2 and in La Vernia July 4, as professional pyrotechnicians will conduct these shows, Jackson noted.