Fireworks

An Arkansas City man is at a Wichita hospital after a weekend fireworks accident. Police say the 39-year-old was hurt around 11:30 Sunday night in the 400 block of South D Street. Police are not releasing information about exactly what happened. Fireworks are illegal in Arkansas City. Setting off fireworks in city limits is a misdemeanor. The fine for possessing and/or discharging fireworks is $50 plus $71 incourt costs for a first offense.

Chapman residents still have a mess to clean but they're taking a break for the Fourth of July.  The 4th is usually a big deal with tons of fireworks lighting up Chapman's sky.  But after a tornado destroyed 60% of the town officials considered banning the tradition. After a lot of talk they changed their minds and decided to allow fireworks.  The city figured residents needed to let loose.  But it banned fireworks in a four block radius where most of the debris is located.

For the first time in more than 40 years fireworks are now legal inside the city limits of Salina. City commissioners passed the motion early Wednesday morning by a 3-2 vote. 1965 was the last time fireworks were legal inside the city limits, some commissioners were not in favor of changing. Salina mayor Aaron Peck was one of the members that expressed concern about the public’s safety when came to the use of fireworks, he voted no on the motion. City commissioner Tom Arpke was the person that started the movement to legalize the fireworks in the city of Salina.

Blame fireworks for a few fires over the holiday weekend – Firefighters fought flames at the Sleepy Hollow apartments near Central and Hillside in Wichita Monday.   Today fire investigators tell us they believe kids were shooting off fireworks that landed on the roof -burning the chimney. The fire caused more than $25,000 in damage. A Wichita home near Pawnee and Meridian also caught fire because fireworks weren't disposed of properly. Officials say someone put used fireworks in a bag and left them in the bed of a truck inside the home's garage.

Calls are still coming in from people injured by fireworks. Wichita hospitals have seen close to 40 people who were treated for burns. The injuries have been coming in all week. Nurses say most are minor injuries and patients are treated and released.

Fireworks are still allowed in Wichita and Sedgwick County for the holiday weekend. Wichita Fire Marshal Brad Crisp said Friday morning "a fireworks ban (in Wichita) is not imminent. " Crisp said officials are continuingo monitor the weather and all related data.  Officials are looking at temperatures, wind conditions, rain chances and other information.  They'll continue to monitor the weather data throughout the weekend.   "A decision to ban fireworks is not one that's made lightly.  That's a big deal," says Crisp.

By Michael Schwanke (BEL AIRE, Kan.) More places to buy them, more places to shoot them. Fans of fireworks have a lot of options this year as Sedgwick County lifts its ban.   And for one town, this Independence Day will look very different. "I'm really excited…I'm really excited," says Bel Aire resident Carol Ignoto. Ignoto fought for and even petitioned to change the Bel Aire's fireworks laws. "They passed it and now we get to have fireworks for the first time in 2010.

Continued hot and dry conditions prompt Dodge City officials to ban fireworks on the Fourth of July for the second year in a row. The decision on banning fireworks inside Dodge City came during a city commission meeting Monday night. Fire officials in Dodge City say the continued hot, dry weather have made the fire danger too high. Commissioners also decided to ban the community fireworks show scheduled for 10:00 p.m. On July 4. When weather improves and the contractor is available, the city will re-schedule the fireworks display.

Fireworks are believed to have caused a house fire in Wellington Friday night. The fire started around eight o'clock in the 1000 block of S. Washington. Map - Location of Fire Interim Fire Chief Bill Hellard tells The Wellington Daily News that the fire was caused by fireworks. The paper reports the home no longer has a roof and there is significant smoke and fire damage to the rest of the house. No one was hurt in the fire.

A woman uses fireworks in an argument with her boyfriend. It happened in their home Saturday night in the 1600 block of North Hydraulic. The couple was arguing when the woman got out some fireworks, lit them and threw them on her 52-year-old boyfriend. A bed caught on fire, but was extinguished quickly. No one was hurt. The woman, 45, was arrested for aggravated arson.

The holiday spirit was strong at Wichita's Century II Tuesday night. Mayor Carl Brewer and the rest of the city council hosted the annual mayor's Christmas Tree lighting. Santa Claus also made and appearance, posed for photos with children and read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.' The event also included games for children and a fireworks show. The event was free. Donations for the Kansas Food Bank were accepted.

Residents could learn whether fireworks will be allowed in the City of Hays next Independence Day. City Manager Toby Dougherty presented two main options to the Hays City Commission Thursday afternoon during its work session. Each option detailed modifications to the current fireworks ordinance. The first option would be to ban the sale of use of fireworks. The second option would be to allow city commissioners to decide whether to ban fireworks at the last regular commission meeting in June.

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.

Park City fire investigators say fireworks start house fire. It broke out around one o'clock Wednesday morning in the 6300 block of N. Upchurch. Crews found a truck in the driveway on fire. It then caught the garage and part of the attic on fire. A family in the home and their dog made it out safely. Officials say they found used fireworks in the truck. They want to remind people to soak down any used fireworks with water. Then store them away from your home.

"I need to call in fireworks. I'm tired of listening. "  That was last Fourth of July. This year emergency dispatchers have a simple message, unless it is an emergency do not call 911. So what number should you call? Starting today there's a special number for people in Sedgwick County to make fireworks and noise complaints.  The goal is to save lives. “Every once in a while there'll be some big, heavy ones that really explode,” said Melvin Johanson.  Johanson has lived in Maize for 12 years and loves the sounds of Independence Day.  “A lot of fireworks and we enjoy them.  It happens once a year and that's all. I don't mind it.” Unfortunately for Sedgwick County dispatchers not everyone agrees.

You know fireworks can be dangerous, but have you ever thought about how much a fireworks accident could cost you? From injuries to fires you could end up in court.      “If you're setting off fireworks and they cause a problem for someone else…you've got a problem,” says KWCH legal expert Charlie O'Hara. He says people often don't think about the financial liability that goes with fireworks. “Fireworks used correctly are fine,” adds O'Hara.

Continued hot and dry conditions prompt Dodge City officials to ban fireworks on the Fourth of July for the second year in a row. The decision on banning fireworks inside Dodge City came during a city commission meeting Monday night. Fire officials in Dodge City say the continued hot, dry weather have made the fire danger too high. Commissioners also decided to ban the community fireworks show scheduled for 10:00 p.m. On July 4. When weather improves and the contractor is available, the city will re-schedule the fireworks display.

Continued hot and dry conditions prompt Dodge City officials to ban fireworks on the Fourth of July for the second year in a row. The decision on banning fireworks inside Dodge City came during a city commission meeting Monday night. Fire officials in Dodge City say the continued hot, dry weather have made the fire danger too high. Commissioners also decided to ban the community fireworks show scheduled for 10:00 p.m. On July 4. When weather improves and the contractor is available, the city will re-schedule the fireworks display.

The five firework stands in the City of Maize are being guarded by police officers this week.  Maize Police Lieutenant Craig Brasser says the officers are guarding the stands in an effort to protect them from vandalism. "I think it makes them think twice before coming to a tent with police cars and police officers inside," says Krehbiel Wholesale Fireworks tent operator Dana Handy. Brasser says this is a proactive move to prevent crime from occurring, especially after the recent armed robberies of fireworks stands in Derby and Goddard.