San Antonio-area fire crews are gearing up for what they expect will be a hectic Fourth of July week, with fireworks stands popping back open across Bexar County and private shows already starting to crackle. Fire officials say that even with patches of recent rain, the mix of aerial fireworks and leftover dry grass and brush can quickly turn holiday fun into brush fires or injuries, keeping departments on high alert.
Crews add stations, engines and medics
Scott Burgess, assistant chief with Bexar County Emergency Service District 4, told News4SanAntonio that crews are planning ahead for brush fires and fireworks-related injuries and are boosting staffing and equipment for the holiday period. "We’ll have the manpower to be able to handle that," Burgess said, explaining that the district plans to keep engines and brush trucks staffed, run medic units and open another station with at least a four-person crew. Officials say the extra resources are intended to cut response times when calls surge around the holiday.
Rain changed the rules at the stands
Heavier spring rainfall lowered the Keech‑Byram drought index in parts of the region, which led some counties to lift burn bans and allowed retailers to resume selling aerial items such as rockets, according to KSAT. Inside San Antonio city limits, though, consumer fireworks remain illegal, and that has not changed. County officials warn that even if more types of fireworks are now legal outside the city, that wider availability can still mean more emergency calls. Fire chiefs are reminding buyers to stick with licensed vendors and to follow the label directions closely to avoid accidental fires.
What the recent numbers show
Holiday numbers have told a mixed story. Bexar County reported 113 documented fireworks-related incidents during the recent New Year’s period, and total New Year’s calls climbed about 31% compared with the previous year, according to data reported by Texas Public Radio. The last Fourth of July weekend, however, brought far fewer fireworks fires in unincorporated areas, dropping from 35 incidents in 2024 to seven in 2025, a decline noted in reporting by the Express‑News. Officials say those swings show how weather, product availability and enforcement can change the level of holiday risk from one year to the next.
Safety steps officials want you to follow
The Bexar County Fire Marshal's office is urging residents to take it slow and follow basic precautions, posting guidance that notes "burning is not recommended" on higher risk days and offering tips on dealing with spent fireworks. According to Bexar County, people should keep water nearby to soak used fireworks, avoid setting off aerials near buildings or vegetation and call local dispatch to report illegal or dangerous fireworks activity. Officials are also asking residents to save 911 for life-threatening emergencies and to use non-emergency numbers for noise or nuisance complaints.
Where to watch instead of lighting your own
The city’s official H‑E‑B Fourth of July Celebration at Woodlawn Lake Park is set to feature a fireworks finale on Saturday, July 4, offering a supervised option instead of backyard launches, the San Antonio Parks Foundation says. The event page lists live entertainment, food and a fireworks show scheduled for around 9 p.m., and organizers encourage attendees to use public transit and follow event rules to help keep the crowds safe. Fire officials say that choosing sanctioned shows reduces the risk of property damage and injuries from consumer fireworks.
Burgess and other local chiefs say their main goal is to keep response times steady while extra calls roll in during the holiday, but they keep coming back to the same point: personal responsibility matters most. If you plan to buy or use fireworks outside the city, they say, follow the labels, keep a charged phone and a water source close by, and think about skipping the backyard show in favor of a public display instead.
