Hutchinson may change fireworks policy next year

(HUTCHINSON, Kan.) — Should fireworks be banned in Hutchinson? That's what some city leaders are considering, after fireworks caused dozens of fires and hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage over the July 4th holiday.

A home in Hutchinson was destroyed early Thursday, when fireworks debris caught the shake shingle roof on fire.

"If just a little firework can do this, it's not worth it," said neighbor Aaliah Hernandez.

The fire was one of four structure fires caused by fireworks in Hutchinson over the holiday. Plus there was a car fire and 40 grass fires there since July 1st., all due to fireworks.

"With the wind obviously if you shoot a fire work up and it goes above the tree line, and the wind picks it up you don't have any control of where the hot embers are going to land," said Hutchinson Fire Chief Kim Forbes.

Which is Chief Forbes is talking to city leaders about changing Hutchinson's fireworks ordinance or banning them entirely next year.

"You hate to get the situation where you don't have anybody to send to emergency calls," Forbes said. "That is rapidly becoming a normal case for us during these times."

It's a concern fire crews hope to have answered before next July, but for now they're just glad fireworks season is over this year.

Hutchinson fireworks future.