Brown County Commissioners voted unanimously to ban certain fireworks from being sold, ignited, or detonated while the county is facing dry conditions.
The banned fireworks include sky rockets with sticks and missiles with fins which are higher risk items that could more easily ignite a fire. Smaller fireworks are not included in the ban.
According to Texas Local Government Code 352.05, counties must make a decision whether to ban fireworks by December 15.
Commissioners referred to the Keetch-Byram Drought Index map which rates areas on a scale from 0-800, 0 being no drought and 800 being an extreme drought. Brown County was noted by Commissioner Steve Adams to be at 522 as of Friday on this index and explained that the Texas Forestry Service considered 575 and higher a drought condition.
County Judge Ray West explained that violating this fireworks ban is a Class C Misdemeanor offense.
A burn ban is also still in effect for Brown County.
