SAN ANTONIO – It's the start of fireworks sales Friday, and some people said the placement of stands makes it the start of a nightmare situation.
The Bexar County Fire Marshal said the concerns hold water. A new law this summer means, for the first time, suburban pockets of county land now have stockpiles of explosive material right next to the homes.
The fire marshal says it's a dangerous loophole, and will only get worse if it isn't stopped.
People who drive Walzem Road between the towns of Converse and Windcrest, might notice fireworks next to a wholesaler of combustible batteries, or when traveling on Montgomery Drive may see a stand just behind the city line.
Over in the Brookside subdivision on Crestway Road, Maria Martinez said she knew something was up when the white fireworks stand arrived 50 feet from her door.
"It's gonna’ be a nightmare, this particular location is going to be a nightmare," Martinez said.
Bexar County Fire Marshal Chris Lopez said she isn't the only one with concerns.
"We're inundated, actually, with calls," Lopez said as people seek more information about traffic and the explosive stockpiles near their homes.
Lopez said he explains to county residents there's a new law passed last legislative session by the fireworks industry, and he can't do anything to change it.
"We cannot, we cannot regulate that,” Lopez said. ”I mean, that's not something that we have the statutory authority over. Right now, the way things are, we cannot make them move those stands."
He called it a loophole in ending the rule keeping fireworks sales 5,000 feet from cities, originally targeting smaller municipalities. The new law allows for firework sales immediately outside city limits.
On their online map, Alamo Fireworks shows 19 stands alone in-between loops 1604 and 410 on the Northeast Side, with another hot spot on the far West Side.
Lopez said permits increased by more than 20 percent this year, and more are coming for anyplace the companies can find.
"They're going to continue to take advantage of that," Lopez said.
He said the law fell through the cracks, but plans to lobby himself next legislative session to reverse it.
In response to the residents and fire marshal, The Texas Pyrotechnic Association told KSAT 12 as cities grow, their stands get unfairly pushed out and cities hurt their investments.
The organization said this left them no choice but to fight for change.
The group noted the summer season is only 11 days long, fireworks have never caused a house fire in Bexar County, and they believe legislators wouldn't pass an unsafe law.