MONDAY, JULY 2, 2007 | FOURTH OF JULY | WWW.KANSAN.COM THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN 13
on the safe side
Lawrence City policy forbids the use and/or discharge of fireworks within city limits, but a few novelties that aren't considered fireworks can be used in town, such as:
> Snakes and glow worms
> Party poppers
> Toy smoke devices
> Snappers
> Toy caps
> Sparklers
There are also some fireworks prohibited throughout Kan-
sas, including:
> Bottle rockets
> M-80s, Silver Salutes and
> Homemade fireworks
Cherry Bomb explosive dives The City of Lawrence also stresses a number of safety tips to consider when shooting off fireworks:
> Never give fireworks to children.
> Always wear eye protection when using explosive devices.
> Ignite only outdoors and make sure the surrounding environment is safe for fireworks.
> Never use fireworks while consuming alcohol and designate a shooter.
> Follow the instructions on fireworks labels.
> Don't point or shoot fireworks at people, animals or buildings.
> Make sure you have a source of water or a fire extinguisher nearby.
> Only light one firework at a time.
> Don't try relighting "dud" fireworks.
> Keep fireworks out of purses and pockets.
> Keep fireworks out of the sunlight and in cool, dry areas.
Source: www.lawrencefiremed.
org/fireworks
Safety first on the Fourth
City ordinance protects public from injury and property damage
By Susan Schwarz
sschwarz@kansan.com
Dan Burnstein said watching fireworks has been a part of his Fourth of July celebration for as long as he can remember.
Burnstein, Chicago senior, is spending his first summer in Lawrence and said the city's ban on fireworks is not likely to affect his use of them this year.
Lawrence mayor Sue Hack said the ban was implemented because of citizen requests and fires that could result from the use of fireworks.
Hack said that fireworks are still sold in the county and that she understood the city can not stop all fireworks from being shot off in the city, but that the police department will respond.
Burnstein said most people probably associate the Fourth of July with fireworks because people always see increased marketing for the items
around that time. He also said that he has never been hurt using fireworks because he has been cautious. Burnstein said that if people are not careful it is likely they will get hurt.
Eve Tolefree, chief of support services for the Lawrence Fire and Medical Department, said the greatest danger people face on the Fourth are injuries to the eyes and face resulting from fireworks.
Tolefree said the best way to keep the community safe is to follow the ordinance set by the city that bans fireworks.
"Even though fireworks are illegal for possession, use and sale, novelty items not classified as fireworks are permitted. These are also classified as 'Safe and Sane' fireworks, which usually means fireworks that do not fly or explode." Tolefree said.
Tolefree said she hopes people
Such items like party poppers and sparklers were acceptable under this proviso, Tolefree said.
will follow the ordinance and supervise children when they use any type of fireworks.
Sergeant Paul Fellers of the Lawrence Police Department said the police will respond to both complaints of fireworks and fireworks heard while patrolling.
City prosecutor Jerry Little said that last year he saw two or three cases come through the court system regarding fireworks.
"A lot of the times the officers will just take the fireworks instead of sending them through the court system," Little said.
The fine for the first offense of shooting off fireworks is a minimum of $100 and a maximum of $200. For the second offense the fine remains the same and the person charged can also face up to six months of jail time, Little said.
Edited by Ben Smith
Firework stands open for seasonal business
Extra day of sales keep wet weather from dampening summer celebration
Kelly Campbell, Eudora, rings up fireworks for Madison Furden, 4, and her grandmother, Judi Mahaley, of Lawrence. Campbell is an employee at the Bartz Brothers Fireworks tent on the corner of 6th Street and K-10.
By Tyler Harbert tharbert@kansan.com
While drizzly days aren't ideal for shooting fireworks, sellers said they expect large crowds to buy Fourth of July novelties over the next three days because wet grounds are safer to use as launching pads than the usual dry grounds during the holiday.
"It should make it a good year for fireworks because there's less hazard of fire," said Jim Pine, owner of Pine's Fireworks, located north of town at the teepee, off Highway 59 near Lawrence Municipal Airport.
The Pine brothers, Jim, Marvin and Jerry, and their father, Howard, have operated the fireworks stand for 60 years, but Jim Pine said this will be the tent's final year because none of the brothers' children want to continue running the business.
Jon Goerina/KANSAN
Pine said he had $5,000 invested in the business, which paid for the land, the tent, a fireworks sales permit and a credit card system. He said the money doesn't include what he paid for the Crazy Daizys, the Knockout Brocades and all the other fireworks he bought from Walden Company Fireworks in Greenwood, Mo.
For the first time in Douglas
County, fireworks could be sold beginning July 1, giving stands an extra day of business.
Pine was surprised at the number of people who came out to buy the novelties on Sunday.
"I didn't think wed have hardly anybody but we haven't done too bad so far." Pine said.
Judy Stone, administrative officer for Douglas County zoning and codes, said although tent operators have one extra day to sell this year, the same regulations — such as selling and shooting fireworks only outside of Lawrence city limits and only on private property — were still in effect. She said 17 sellers received fireworks permits this year.
He said business was slow Sunday morning, but he expected sales to be up later in the day if the cloud cover lifted. He said fireworks shooters wouldn't have to worry about where they light their fuses this year because of the wet grounds.
One of those permits was issued to Gary Bartz, owner of Bartz Brothers Fireworks, located on West 6th Street, near the K-10 exit.
Bartz has operated his tent at the same spot for four years, and said he was preparing for his busiest day. July 4, by stocking up on employees
and an extra cash register.
His favorite fireworks are artillery shells, which are balls that when loaded into a narrow shooter cylinder explode high in the air and produce a colorful array of sparks.
"I'm a lazy fireworks shooter," Bartz said. "I always let the kids do it."
He said he was hoping he could sell a $650 box of Black Cat brand
fireworks that filled a seven-feet tall box called "The Godfather." If the ground stays wet it shouldn't be a problem, he said.
"I've got a guy whose mouth is watering over it," Bartz said.
— Edited by Ben Smith