Customers shop at the fireworks stand in the parking lot of Gene's Heartland Foods.
Fire Chief Mindy Andrasevits said the past two Fourth of Julys have been pretty calm, and there are precautions that people can take to ensure it stays that way.
With dry conditions, it is especially important to be careful and have a hose or bucket of water handy when shooting off fireworks, she said.
In recent years, there have been problems with neighborhoods gathering in the street to set them off, she said. Crowding the street can block emergency personnel from getting down the road in a hurry.
She also advised that only adults light fireworks.
“Shoot them off on your own property, not public space like streets, alleys or public parks. You should always have a bucket of water and all spent fireworks get dumped in a bucket of water and you leave them overnight before you discard them,” Andrasevits said. “And then, always pick up your fireworks trash afterwards. Don’t leave the trash all over the neighborhood.”
Statewide, there were 102 firework-related injuries last year, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Over half of the injuries on the Fourth were from burns, but there was a 43% decrease in reported injuries from 2021.
The Health Department recommended having a first-aid kit nearby, keeping a water supply on hand and only lighting one firework at a time.
Bottle rockets are illegal, and M80 type fireworks are considered explosives. It is a felony in Kansas to possess, manufacture or use them. It is also illegal to shoot fireworks on any public roadway, under vehicles or within 50 feet of a fireworks stand or at a gas station.
If you’re planning on celebrating the holiday with your own fireworks, the city has designated 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. July 1-2, and 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. July 3-4 for when fireworks are permitted.
The city’s firework display will start at about 9 p.m. Tuesday at the middle school. The event is hosted by Parks and Rec.