VANDERBURGH CO., IN (WFIE) -
Because of the dry conditions, there's now a ban on personal fireworks in Vanderburgh County. Commissioners issued the ban at their meeting on Tuesday night. The ban goes into effect immediately.
If you live in the county and were planning on shooting off any firework Wednesday night, your plans have now changed.
"We have signed it. It's now in effect in Vanderburgh County," said Marsha Abell, the County Commissioner President.
The county joins the city of Evansville in banning personal fireworks saying it's just too risky because the ground is simply too dry.
"If a fire starts out there, it could get a good momentum before the fire department may be able to get there and get a good handle on it," said Sherman Greer, the Vanderburgh County EMA Director.
Greer told commissioners that he county's volunteer fire departments support the ban on all fireworks, including sparklers.
"This is out in the county to where if a fire starts out there it could get a good momentum before the fire department is able to get there and get a good handle on it. The volunteers fire departments for the county are all behind this 100%," Greer said.
"I understand the ban, but it's kind of disheartening," said Dreamland Fireworks owner David Baize.
Baize says he's made a $20,000 investment in products that no one is buying.
"It's kind of like buying a car that you can't drive," Baize said.
His business on the west side is fully stocked just like it was on opening day. Now that both Evansville and Vanderburgh County have banned fireworks, sale signs that would normally go up after the holiday are already up.
"We've got everything marked completely in half. I've got to get rid of it. I'm a smaller guy. I can't put it away and bring it back out," Baize said.
Vanderburgh County Commissioners say their ban supercedes a state law that says fireworks can be used until July 9th or on certain holidays. Meaning, once the county's ban expires in seven days, they say fireworks will no longer be legal anyway, leaving Baize with very little hope of a sudden boom in business.
"They're just going to probably give up on it all for the season," Baize said.
Baize tells 14 News that he only had five customers on Tuesday, but he plans to stay open in hopes of selling at least some of his products.
The mayor's office say that the city fireworks on the riverfront will go on as scheduled. However, officials say that if the wind speeds change the mayor could cancel the show. They say that call will be made by 10:00 a.m. Wednesday.
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