With another dry summer forecasted, firework vendors make their case on why one KOTA Territory city should *not* ban fireworks.
During last night's Scottsbluff City Council meeting, members discussed their concerns about the potential fire hazard fireworks can cause.
Currently, Scottsbluff allows fireworks sales for ten days leading up to the fourth of July.
Mayor Randy Meininger considered cutting the number of days they could be sold, but there was a concern for vendors. "Correct me if I'm wrong," said Meininger. "But I'm assuming you (vendors) already put in orders?"
Several local firework vendors say that during last years dry conditions; they increased education on firework safety... and the number of firework related incidents decreased.
"We stressed having a hose, a bucket, and don't let your kids light your fireworks without you," said Eric Wilcox of Discount Fireworks.
Vendors also said that having strong communication with the city and its fire prevention officer helped keep the number of fires down.
"As a business person, we didn't want to see fires either," says Greg Trautman of Fireworks Unlimited. "That's a bad thing for our business also. So didn't think this is the end of the road either for contact with us."
Longtime vendor Gerald Wilcox says his concern is the city trying to make a decision three months before sales can even begin.
"The thing that bothers me about doing this so early, like in March, is we don't know what the weather is going to do when it comes to May or June."
Ultimately, the mayor thinks that if the vendors work with the fire department to educate consumers about the potential dangers... no restrictions should need to be put into place.
"If we can prove that we can do it in a dry year, education is a key component... Everyone okay with that?"
Vendors reported a drop in sales last year due to dry conditions. They hopeful that both the weather conditions... and their sales... improve this year.
