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Bexar County court approves order restricting certain fireworks amid drought concerns
Summary
The Bexar County Commissioners Court on Dec. 9 approved an order prohibiting the sale and use of specified projectile-style fireworks, citing elevated KVDI drought readings and limited statutory authority to ban other aerial devices.
The Bexar County Commissioners Court voted Dec. 9 to adopt an order prohibiting the sale and use of certain restricted fireworks, effective on the date of adoption. The motion to approve the order was moved by Commissioner Rodriguez and seconded by Commissioner Moody; the presiding judge called for the vote and the motion carried after members answered “aye.”
Chris, an emergency-management staff member who presented the item, described the request as “pretty straightforward, simple,” and said county readings on the Keetch-Byram Drought Index were well above 600 in parts of the county, increasing fire risk and informing the recommendation to restrict projectile-style fireworks. Mr. Lopez (addressed in the meeting as a commissioner) raised concerns about widespread illegal sales and property damage and asked whether enhanced enforcement or a task force might improve compliance.
Chief Ortega, responding for the county fire and emergency team, said the county works with the City of San Antonio fire department, the sheriff’s office and the state fire marshal on enforcement operations but noted limits under state law. “The statute is very clear, and we’re limited in what fireworks we can ban or restrict,” Ortega said, adding that restrictions currently practicable tend to target bottle-rocket–type devices that travel unpredictably. Ortega described targeted enforcement of illegal sales — often tied to theft and resale — and the county’s coordination with other agencies when illegal vendors are found.
County staff and commissioners also discussed public-education efforts and designated safe-use or monitored-display zones as tools to reduce residential fires, and Ortega highlighted a PIO-run outreach program that the office said has reduced structure fires tied to improper disposal of fireworks debris. The order approved Dec. 9 takes effect immediately on adoption; the court did not attach a separate implementation timeline beyond existing interagency enforcement efforts.
