GATESVILLE (June 23, 2009)--They're big, small and make lots of sparks and noise, but mixing fireworks with the already dry land that’s baking under the hot Texas sun is a bad idea, Coryell County Judge John Firth says.

"We're taking action voluntarily that everyone cooperates and lowers the risk of wildfires," he said.

That is why the county adopted a voluntary restriction on fireworks usage and sales.

County officials are asking that aerial fireworks not be sold in the county because of the wildfire threat, Firth said.

"We are asking that local vendors and local citizens to refrain from selling and using the most risky fireworks which could cause wildfires, those being the aerial rockets referred to as sticks and tailfins, " he said.

Texas law prohibits the county from completely restricting the use of fireworks because specific requirements for drought conditions were not met by June 15.

Fireworks shop employees such as Kyle Cox of the American Fireworks stand on Old Lorena Road, in Lorena said, however, that he wouldn’t close up shop if McLennan County merely asked him to.

"We have to make money,” he said.

“We take time off our jobs to come here and make extra money,” he said.

But in Coryell County, Judge Firth said he hopes county fireworks dealers and residents will adhere to the honor system and won’t use potentially dangerous fireworks

" We would hope that neighbors and sellers recognize that from a safety standpoint they wouldn't use fireworks. That's important as the fire hazards continue to grow between now and the 4th of July,” he said.