Fireworks

"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.

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.

Police in Goddard and Derby are looking for suspects after two fireworks stands were robbed over the last couple of days. The first robbery happened around 10:15 Wednesday night in the 300 block of East Patriot Avenue in Derby.  Police say the men were armed with a silver colored revolver and demanded fireworks. The suspects took off in a black SUV with a slanted back. The robbers made off with several packages of fireworks.  Police did release a sketch of what one of the suspects looked like.

Fireworks go on sale Wednesday in Sedgwick County.  This year will be the first time the county will have a non-emergency number available for people to call with complaints. The number is (316) 290-1011 It will be open on the evening of July 4th and early in the morning of July 5th. It's for fireworks complaints only. The line was opened because of an incident that happened last year on the holiday.  Many were trying to call 911 about a deadly motorcycle accident, but couldn't get through because all lines were tied up. If a non-emergency fireworks complaint call is received on the 911 line, the dispatcher will transfer the caller to the non-emergency number.

For many in southwest Kansas, last year's dry weather meant no fireworks on the Fourth of July. This year the tradition should be back for celebrations in Dodge City. This week Dodge City commissioners voted to temporarily waive the city's fireworks ban on the fourth and fifth of July. The waiver does not apply to fireworks on public property. Last Summer's extreme heat and dry conditions led many communities, including Dodge City, to not allow any fireworks on the Fourth.

Just a couple blocks from the fire scene the manager of a fireworks stand--who is also a mother--makes sure all her customers get a safety brochure.  "Come on, Wichita," Mitzi Rivers-Singleton says.  "Let's be safe!" Rivers-Singleton was reacting to the early morning fire in the 1200 blk of N. Glendale on Sunday.  Investigators say it was caused by someone placing discarded fireworks in an outdoor trash can.  They smoldered for hours before catching the house on fire.  When firefighters arrived they found the front of the home and the porch engulfed in flames.

So, it's the 4th of July weekend and you're ready to blow off some steam, as in fireworks. But you've heard that some of the laws of changed this year, especially in Sedgwick County. What's legal where? Below is the official statement from the county that should help clarify things. Sedgwick County has new laws regarding fireworks usage in the “unincorporated” areas of Sedgwick County. These laws only apply to those residents who live in the unincorporated areas.

The Wichita Wingnuts will still hold their 4th of July Celebration Fireworks tonight.  Gates to Lawrence Dumont Stadium will open at 6pm.  The NBC Exhibition Game between the Haysville Heat and the Denver Cougars has been canceled, however we will show the movie “Cars” on the Video Board beginning at 6:30pm.  Following the movie, there will be a parade of flags presented by Alefs Harley Davidson followed by the National Anthem and concluding with our spectacular 4th of July Fireworks Show.

Cheyenne, Rawlins, and Sherman counties have all banned open burning within the county. This includes but not limited to controlled burning of grass or fields, fire pits, charcoal grills, trash, yard debris, and in many locations also restricts the use of fireworks. There are also burn bans in Anderson, Barton, Decatur, Franklin, Gove, Graham, Logan, Mitchell, Morton, Ottawa, Pawnee, Phillips, Rooks, Thomas and Trego. The city of Olathe has also issued a burn ban. The combination of above normal temperatures, below normal precipitation, low relative humidity, and wind has caused high fire risk for much of the area.

The Salina Fire Department spent Friday doing a job they had not performed in over 40 years. Site to Site fire officials teamed with city planning staff as they inspected all six of the fireworks stands set up in the city limits. Earlier this year, the Salina city commission voted to legalize fireworks in the city, this breaks the 46-year ban which previously stood in place. The inspection process put on by the fire and city officials was nothing short of detailed. In fact, they came prepared with a checklist of all the requirements that needed to be met before the firework stand could open.