With the approaching Fourth of July holiday comes the annual reminder from Iola Police Chief Jared Warner and Fire Chief Donald Leapheart that shooting off fireworks is illegal in Iola.
The citywide ban on the sale or lighting of fireworks in city limits has been around for more than a decade, Leapheart noted, yet still the sporadic sound of firecrackers has filled the air around town this week.
“We’ve already gotten plenty of calls about it,” Warner said.
Police officers and firefighters tend to be lenient about fireworks violators, as long as there are no repeat offenders.
“Most people are understanding about it,” Warner said. “We don’t usually have anyone who is difficult.”
Still, officers will cite blatant or repeat violators, the police chief said.
“It’s all about safety,” Leapheart said, recalling one Independence Day holiday a few years back in which sparks from fireworks caused a small fire that damaged a house on South Chestnut Street.
“We were fortunate last year in that we didn’t have any injuries,” Leapheart continued, a feat he would like to see repeated this year and forever into the future.
Despite the citywide ban, special permission has been given to the Iola Elks for their annual fireworks show on Sunday evening at Elks Lake on the south edge of town.
Leapheart provided a number of tips for those who head out of town to shoot off fireworks.
— Get permission from landowners before shooting fireworks on their property. Leapheart noted that many roadside ditches are filled with thick, drying weeds that could ignite rapidly into an out-of-control fire.
— Those who buy fireworks should do so only from reliable vendors, and the fireworks should be used only as intended. Don’t try to alter or combine them, and never experiment with homemade fireworks, he said.
— Use fireworks outdoors only; keep them away from houses and flammable materials.
— Have a bucket of water, hose or other water source nearby.
— Do not try to relight or handle malfunctioning fireworks. The best bet is to leave them be for a while, then soak them in water and throw them away.
— Be sure others are a safe distance away before lighting any fuses.
— Never ignite fireworks in a container, particularly glass or metal ones.
— Do not wear loose clothing near a fire or while using fireworks.
— Rockets should be launched only from their designed tubes; never a bottle.
— Store fireworks in a cool, dry place.
— Please light fireworks in a sober state of mind.
Warner pointed out that even fireworks designed for children, such as sparklers, should be treated with the same amount of care as the largest aerial shells; the tip of a sparkler can burn at more than 1,000 degrees.
Children should wear gloves while holding a sparkler, and children under 5 years should never be given one. Adults also should avoid holding a child in their arms while using sparklers.
Finally, educating children of all ages about the dangers of fireworks, and instilling in them proper safety, is vital, Leapheart and Warner said.
“It all boils down to parents being responsible and children being careful,” Leapheart said.
Fireworks still banned in Iola
