Fireworks sales thriving despite drought, partial ban

The Bandera County Commissioners prohibited the sale, use and detonation of fireworks with sticks like bottle rockets or missiles with fins in the unincorporated areas of Bandera County from June 14 until July 5. But the fireworks vendors in Bandera County already had predicted that ban and removed those items from their shelves.

The Lions’ Club is contracted with Mr. W’s Fireworks and runs the stand in Bandera County on Hwy 173 North. Bruce Worth and Rene Leith from the Lion’s Club were operating the stand on Saturday, June 25.

Mr. Worth said he had not noticed any decline in business yet due to the prohibition.

“Usually, the first couple of days are pretty slow, but we were already prepared for that before they even announced it. We took them off the shelves,” said Worth.

Ms. Leith remarked, “We are almost always in a drought situation as a county, so this is a common thing for us.”

“It’s more unusual that we get to sell them,” she stated.

Worth added the New Years’ Eve sales usually allowed for that type of firework.

At Blastoff Fireworks on Hwy 16 by the Red Horse Saloon, stand manager Jason Boskind stated, “We took all of that away voluntarily. We are based in Bexar County but many of the surrounding counties are banning those as well.”

Boskind said that although the stand has only been in operation now for two years, he could not accurately say if the prohibition would hurt the sales.

Both companies use their profits to sponsor local charities. The Lions’ Club uses their profits from the stand to provide eyeglasses, and hearing aids to residents who need them.

They also use the profits to pay for tuition for youngsters to the Lions’ Camp in Kerrville. They have donated to ADoggie4U, Silver Sage and donated food to the Bandera Food Pantry.

Blastoff Fireworks donates to the Bandera City Fire Department and makes a donation to the Helotes VFW.

Blastoff is also sponsoring a free face painting for kids on July 3 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. No purchase is necessary to participate.

While neither stand could provide literature on safety with fireworks, both had some posted guidelines. Blastoff Fireworks had a video presentation of each product to show what it should look like.

Mr. W’s had a single copy of a lengthy brochure which dealt with the regulation of fireworks and fireworks displays from the Texas Administrative Code.

For more information about the safe handling and detonation of fireworks, go to the National Fireworks Association at www.nationalfireworks. com for two short safety videos. Or go to www.cpsc. gov/Safety for more information on safety tips when using fireworks.