TRI-STATE (WFIE) -
With no rain expected soon, drought conditions continue to get worse across the tri-state, and with the 4th of July just over two weeks away, fireworks stands are opening up for business. Depending on where you live, you may not get as much use out of what you buy.
Every year, toward the end of June, many Americans begin to think about how they will celebrate the 4th of July, and every year, those celebration plans typically involve the use of fireworks.
"We are in a moderate drought at this time, identified by the National Weather Service. And while we're in the drought situation, that also increases the risk of wildfires. It doesn't take much to get the fire started," said Larry Koerber, the Henderson County EMA Director.
Due to this risk, some counties in the tri-state are issuing burn bans, meaning no one can openly burn anything non-cooking-related.
"During the 'burn ban', that is illegal. No burning, outside burning, is allowed for anything anywhere in the county," Koerber said.
On Monday, Warrick County issued a burn ban to prevent what commissioners call 'unreasonable fire hazards during unusually dry weather.'
This is the second county-wide burn ban issued for the tri-state, after Henderson County issued one on May 29th.
Officials 14 News spoke to on both sides of the river say these burn bans will not affect the sale and use of fireworks, though they say they have differing policies when it comes to that issue.
For example, the City of Evansville restricts the use of fireworks to certain times of the day on certain days of the year. However, the Henderson County EMA says the use of fireworks is permitted there, at any time. They say the only time they can cite anyone for illegal fireworks use there is if it can be proven that a specific fireworks use started the fire.
"Kentucky laws changed more recently. The use of that varies locally on what they can and can't use and when they can't use it. And in Indiana, it's spelled out a little bit more. In Vanderburgh County, or at least in Evansville, they've restricted the use of fireworks to around the 4th of July, Memorial Day weekend, Labor Day weekend, and around the New Year," said Owner of Stateline Fireworks, David Brancik.
Firework policies vary from state-to-state and city-to-city. Officials say continued burn bans may eventually complicate fireworks ordinances even further.
"If common sense tells you that this might be a bad idea, this might be dangerous, you shouldn't wait for the police to step in or the city to step in and write an ordinance that tells you not to do something," said Jason Cullum with EPD.
For now, counties that are under a burn ban say they won't be citing anyone for simply using fireworks in compliance with city ordinances, but they say it is possible that could change in some areas, if this drought continues for an extended period of time.
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With no rain expected soon, drought conditions continue to get worse across the tri-state, and the 4th of July just over two weeks away.
