Travis County Commissioners Court took no action June 10 to restrict the sale and use of fireworks in the unincorporated areas of the county during the July fireworks season.



The court has the ability to regulate so-called "restricted" fireworks, which are rockets with sticks and missiles with fins, by taking action prior to June 15, Fire Marshal Hershel Lee explained.



To take action, the Keetch-Byram Drought Index—the average measure of ground moisture across the county—must be at or above 575 on a scale of zero to 800, in which zero represents complete saturation and 800 represents a complete lack of moisture.



Lee said the current drought index is 180, and recent rains may drop the index lower.



Should conditions change drastically and create imminent danger, the court of Judge Samuel Biscoe could declare a local disaster, he said.



"I do not think it will be a bad year for fireworks," Lee said. "Every year we have a few fires from the discharge of fireworks."