The 2011 Fourth of July holiday might see rain on the parade, whether it is from the skies or not.

Austin County’s drought conditions have worsened, and the first step has been taken to produce a total fireworks ban throughout the county’s unincorporated areas.

Austin County Judge Carolyn Bilski and commissioners formally adopted a ban on the use of one class of fireworks, known as “missiles with fins” and “skyrockets with sticks.”

The ban does not include all fireworks devices, which are designed to produce visible or audible effects by combustion, or small common fireworks, known as Class C explosives.

Then, the ban was only the beginning of a holiday without the “rockets’ red glare.”

Bilski promised that if no rain comes to the county before the holiday, a disaster declaration would be introduced.

Continued dry conditions will force the declaration, which will prohibit all use of fireworks of any class.

“If we don’t get rain, we will do a disaster declaration.  We don’t want to do like last year, and do a late emergency declaration and go around closing fireworks stands at 8 p.m.,” said Bilski.

Bilski responded to questions about requests for safe-place fireworks.

“No one has yet provided a request for safe place. We usually have one or two,” she said.

“If we don’t get rain, we just have to shut it all down. It’s getting scary,” she added.

Saying that the holiday is not the only consideration, Bilski also said that the following weekend was in question.

“Melanie Willingham is working with the City of Sealy, and getting me a plan for the Sealybration, the week after the Fourth of July, and we are working out a plan for that event,” said Bilski.

If substantial rain does not fall on Austin County, neither will fireworks for the mid-summer classic Fourth of July celebration.