New Year’s Eve & Fall 2008 Fireworks Season

We need your help to keep fireworks legal in the state of Texas!

With law changes in 2006, counties now have the power to declare a disaster and close fireworks stores or stands at any time and for any reason. Counties have used dry conditions as a reason to take extreme measures rather than cooperate with the fireworks vendors.

Fireworks are under the biggest threat in several counties in South Texas for this New Year’s Eve selling season (December 20th-January 1st). These counties routinely say they receive many more calls against fireworks than in favor. We need your help to change this and encourage the counties to work with vendors to develop solutions that enable people to enjoy their holidays with traditional fireworks but do so in a safe manner.

In Spring 2008, the San Antonio area continued in drought conditions creating high fire danger. Comal (encompassing New Braunfels & Bulverde), Guadalupe (Seguin, TX) and Medina (Hondo, Castroville, Devine) counties enacted last-minute total prohibitions on fireworks sales and use.

Officials in Bexar (San Antonio) took a progressive stance and cooperated with fireworks vendors to develop a plan that resulted in the number of fires decreasing by 98%. This plan allowed sales but required fireworks to be limited to 10 Shooter’s Sites provided by fireworks vendors.

It was an unquestionable success! Sadly, Bexar and other counties are under siege again. We need your help!

What You Should Do: Make 6 Phone Calls

Call and write the county officials in the counties under threat as soon as possible. Let them know you vote and shop in their county. You think their county needs to work with fireworks vendors to develop plans that allow fireworks sales and usage but do so in a way to minimize fire danger. You’ll likely talk to an aide or receptionist, but don’t worry as they’ll take your information (name and number) and your position gets passed onto the elected official.

Whom to Contact

1. Nelson W. Wolff, Bexar County Judge (chief county executive)
Phone Number: (210) 335-2626, FAX Number: (210) 335-2926

2. Commissioner Sergio `Chico´ Rodriguez, Precinct 1 Bexar County
Phone Number: (210) 335-2611, FAX Number: (210) 335-2215

3. Commissioner Tommy Adkisson, Precinct 4 Bexar County
Phone Number: (210) 335-2614, Fax to: (210) 335-2644

4. Danny Scheel, Comal County Judge (New Braunfels/Bulverde/Spring Branch/Canyon Lake):
Phone: 830-221-1105, Fax: 830-608-2026

5. Mike Wiggins, Guadalupe County Judge (Seguin, New Braunfels)
Phone 830.303.8857, press 5, FAX (830) 303-4064

6. Jim Barden, Medina County Judge (Hondo, Castroville, Devine, Lytle)
Phone 830 741-6020, Fax: 830 741-6025