SAN ANTONIO -- Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff issued a disaster declaration Tuesday that restricts the sale and use of fireworks over the Fourth of July holiday.

The declaration(PDF) shortens the selling period of fireworks, which will occur from 12:01 a.m. June 30 to midnight July Fourth.

The order also bans the sale and use of flying and aerial fireworks that have the potential of reaching more than 16 feet in height, including skyrockets, missiles, helicopters, cakes, reloadables and tubes.

The declaration, which also restricts the use of fireworks to seven safe zones (PDF) in the county, was issued in an effort to prevent brush fires due to the ongoing drought.

The new rules were not met with enthusiasm from fireworks vendors like Russel Page of Mr. W. Fireworks.

"You can probably count on at least a third of the money not coming in," Page said. "I think a lot of people are disappointed because it's a tradition out here."