NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas -- Although July 4 is still a month away, John Cores is already concerned about the potential for dangerous fires due to fireworks.

According to Cores, his home, barn, and cattle were nearly consumed in a ring of fire on New Year’s Day when some fireworks with which a child was playing started a blaze.

“Well, I was standing at the gates of hell when the devil called my name,” Cores sings in a song he wrote about that night. “The smoke was so white and hot I couldn’t see the flames.”

“When out of the smoke came the hand of God and set down Fire Engine Number 5. The angels got out and said, ‘We’ll take it from here. Don’t worry, you’ll survive.’”

Cores lost 40 acres of pasture land and more than 40 round bails of hay during the New Year’s Day blaze. Mesquite trees on his land are still charred from the incident.

“It took out one farm, two farm, three farms,” Cores said. “Six months later, I’ve got to feed my cattle and nobody cares about me.”

State law allows counties to restrict the sale and use of specific fireworks, but Cores is still worried another holiday fireworks fire could happen to someone else.

Both Rexar and Guadalupe counties passed a ban on certain aerial fireworks; specifically, skyrockets and with sticks, and missiles with fins.

Fireworks are banned within most city limits.

People are encouraged to use designated “safe zone” locations when lighting fireworks.

If you light fireworks on your own property, please follow these safety tips:

1. Light fireworks on a flat, fire-resistant surface like pavement.
2. Keep a bucket of water nearby.
3. Dispose of used matches or sparkler rods by first cooling them in the water.
4. Always supervise children.