As the Fourth of July approaches, local and state officials are issuing warnings about common hazards over the holiday weekend.

Despite recent rain, Central Texas remains in drought conditions, and Travis County fire officials say firefighters have been fighting a rising number of roadside blazes. The Travis County marshal's office described the county as a "virtual tinder box" and urged residents to be cautious in setting off fireworks for the Fourth of July.

"In celebrating the anniversary of our nation’s independence, many people forget to be careful using consumer fireworks, thus creating a real fire danger," said Hershel Lee, Travis County fire marshal, in a news release.  "Fireworks are unpredictable and can be a dangerous ignition source.  Fireworks users need to know that Travis County is a prime candidate for wildfires – especially this time of year."

People who use fireworks illegally in the county could face citations and fines. Fireworks are banned within the Austin city limits.

Click here for fireworks safety tips.

State officials also warned parents to watch their children closely around water as many families head out to pools, lakes and creeks to escape the heat over the holiday weekend.

According to the Department of Family and Protective Services, 60 children have drowned in Texas in 2009 -- 30 of them in June. Two of the June drownings happened in Central Texas, including a 16-year-old who drowned in Lake Georgetown while swimming with friends and a 4-year-old who drowned in an Austin apartment complex pool on June 11.

"If you can't see a child, you can't save a child," said Sasha Rasco, DFPS assistant commissioner for Child Care Licensing, in a news release. "Children should never be left unsupervised for any length of time in or around water, because the results can be devastating."

Eighty-two children drowned in Texas in 2008.

Visit www.seeandsave.org for more information on water safety.