San Marcos Record, San Marcos, TX

Local News

June 19, 2009

No burn ban for Hays; too late to limit fireworks

By Anita Miller

San Marcos — Caldwell County is under a burn ban as is Comal, and Guadalupe County residents have been allowed to burn only on weekends.

Hays County officials, however, have yet to re-institute a burn ban lifted in late August, and it is too late for them to place limitations on the use of fireworks during the upcoming Fourth of July season.

Under Texas law, fireworks can only be sold twice a year, from June 24 to July 4 and from Dec. 20 to Jan. 1. Hays County Judge Liz Sumter said on Thursday that it’s “too late to call for a fireworks ban at this point. It had to be done by June 15 at the latest.”

She said commissioners have yet to receive a recommendation from County Fire Marshal Mark Chambers.

Sumter said though it’s too late to limit fireworks, commissioners, who are scheduled to meet June 23, can still take action.

“We can call a disaster based on the drought and at that point the burn ban goes back on as well as a fireworks ban.”

Temperatures have been hovering at or near the 100-degree mark in San Marcos and Hays County in recent days and the area is drastically behind in rainfall.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor update issued Thursday, much of Hays and surrounding counties are still under “exceptional” drought, which is the highest category.

The monitor says 7.6 percent of the state is in “exceptional” drought, while only 27 percent of Texas is free of any drought. One year ago, just .05 percent of the state was experiencing exceptional drought.

In addition to a burn ban, Caldwell County has outlawed certain types of fireworks described as “skyrockets with sticks” and “missiles with fins.”

Fire Marshal Chambers did not return a phone call seeking comment.

Comal County may also declare a disaster; though fireworks are currently not restricted.

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