Fireworks sales open in Harris County ahead of July 4

Fireworks sales opened in Harris County on June 24, giving families a narrow stretch of time to stock up before Fourth of July celebrations. Under the Texas State Fire Marshal’s retail selling season, permits run through 11:59 p.m. on July 5, but where residents live still decides whether those fireworks can be lit at all.

Inside Houston city limits, discharge is illegal. The Houston Fire Department will enforce the ban in the city’s limited-purpose annexation areas as well, a distinction that matters for people on the edge of the city who may assume county rules apply. In unincorporated Harris County, consumer fireworks are legal to buy, possess and use, but some places are still off limits and certain pyrotechnic uses require a county-issued permit.

Houston fines can run from $500 to $2,000 for each individual firework, and if a minor is caught with fireworks, the parent or guardian gets the fine. Fireworks also cannot be used near churches, hospitals, asylums, licensed child-care centers or schools and colleges unless written authorization is obtained.

National Fire Protection Association data estimate about 19,500 fireworks-started fires a year in the United States, with more than one-third of injuries involving children under 15 and about 44 percent of injuries caused by burns. Sparklers can reach about 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, hot enough to cause serious injuries in seconds.

Keep an adult present when minors are involved, light fireworks away from buildings, trees and plants, never relight a dud, keep a bucket of water nearby, and soak used fireworks in water or sand overnight before throwing them away. Clean up debris afterward.

In unincorporated Harris County, the Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office handles fire prevention and inspects and approves retail fireworks displays under state law. The county also points residents to wildfire and burn-ban guidance.