2 = THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY,JULY3,2002
Next year, fireworks may be thing of the past
Commissioners considering the consequences of fireworks
Todd Smith Kansan staff writer
Several fires in Lawrence last Fourth of July have ignited a movement to make fireworks illegal in Lawrence next year.
Commissioner Jim Henry said that people had acted irresponsibly with fireworks in the past.
"It is out of control when we have fires in the community," he said.
Rich Barr, Fire Marshall of the Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical Department, said the department responded to several large structure fires last year.
A house fire at 501 Colorado St. had $200,000 worth of damage and was believed to be caused by fireworks, he said.
"They were lighting fireworks and throwing ones that were designed to placed on the ground and we believed that the fireworks ended up in a couch that was on an outside patio," Barr said.
Barr said the department treated two people on the scene and transported one to the hospital for evaluation.
He said the fire left six residents without homes.
Henry said the commission was waiting to see how this year will turn out.
"We want to encourage everyone to act responsibly," Henry said.
He said after this Fourth of July he had no doubt that the city commission would address the issue.
thoughts are firecrackers, worms and sparklers for one day, but no aerial fireworks, nothing that will come down on someone else's roof or deck," he said.
"I think we are going to look at the issue carefully, it might not be a total ban, but a reasoned response," Henry said. "My
Henry said he leaned toward public safety over private entertainment.
"We need to encourage people to go to the public displays;" Henry said.
Mike Lheureux, Wichita graduate student, said he would probably still shoot fireworks in Lawrence if the city commissioners decided to ban them.
"I have lived in towns where they have banned it officially, but people still shoot off fireworks anyway," he said. "In Wichita it is outlawed, but I see people shoot them off."
He said he thought a better way to manage the situation would be to designate area where people could shoot them off.
Alison Olewnik, Manhattan sophomore, said she did not support the ban either.
"I have shot fireworks in Lawrence in the past and I will still plan to shoot them off if it was banned," she said.
Barr said one way to prevent fireworks injuries was to prohibit them completely, but the other way is for people to use fireworks according to the label on the fireworks wrappers.
Barr said the city ordinance permitted the use of fireworks from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m on July 2 and 3, and from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m on July 4.
Contact Smith at tsmith@kansan.com This story was edited by Mandy Miller.
What are you doing on the Fourth of July?
Compiled by Jay Pilgreen
"I'm probably going to be writing a program on the 4th."
Rob Gales
Olathe senior
"I have to work, and then I'm going to a party."
Lauren Mosimann
Topeka senior
"I'm going to Widespread Panic shows on the 3rd and the 5th."
David Hutchkiss Kansas City junior