The Hays County Commissioners Court approved enacting a burn ban on the recommendation of the Hays County Fire Marshal’s office at the court’s regular meeting Feb. 9. The court also approved a measure that will allow vendors to sell fireworks during three additional periods each year. House Bill 1150, passed during the 84th Legislature and enacted Sept. 1, gives counties the option of allowing retail fireworks permit holders to sell fireworks Feb. 25 to midnight on March 2, April 16 to midnight on April 21 and the Wednesday before the last Monday in May to midnight on the last Monday in May. Commissioners unanimously approved the measure Feb. 9. The new dates allow for fireworks sales related to Texas Independence Day, San Jacinto Day and Memorial Day, respectively. Previously fireworks vendors in Texas were allowed to sell their goods at two times of the year: New Year’s Eve and the Fourth of July. Some areas also allowed fireworks sales for Cinco de Mayo. A countywide burn ban, which commissioners enacted at the Feb. 9 meeting for the first time since October, will not supersede the new law, meaning that if a burn ban is in effect, fireworks sales and use are still allowed outside prohibited areas. The cities of San Marcos, Kyle and Buda each prohibit fireworks in the city limits. “The fire chiefs have inputted that they feel the time has come [to enact the burn ban],” Assistant Fire Marshal Clint Browning said. “We have a lot of dead material, particularly west of the interstate that has become very ignitable. We’ve had multiple fires in the last few days.” Browning said the new fireworks law can only be curbed when the Keetch-Byram Drought Index reaches 475, indicating drought conditions exist. Right now Hays County’s KBDI is 120, Browning said. Allowing more fireworks sales during a county-enacted burn ban creates a challenge, he said. “Hopefully they’ll change that in the next legislative session,” he said.