Disaster declarations ban fireworks

KOKOMO, Ind. (WLFI) - The 4th July is less than a  week away and people have already started purchasing fireworks.

Beware. Although a state law protects the use of fireworks in the days surrounding the 4th of July whether there is a burn ban in place or not, more counties are looking into disaster declarations as a possible way to prevent the use of fireworks this year.

This includes Howard county, where the Kokomo fire chief and mayor have agreed to declare an emergency, putting a ban on lighting fireworks.

The state fire marshall said it's all about keeping you safe.

"No one want to curtail business or people being able to celebrate the holidays but the last thing we want, want to happen are a group of people at a public display where some wildfire or a land fire gets going and they are not able to get away from it," State Fire Marshal Jim Greeson said.

NewsChannel 18 reported Tuesday that Delphi has canceled their annual fireworks show, and Miami County is putting in place an emergency declaration banning the use of fireworks.

On Wednesday, Howard County followed suit making firework store owners and firework spectators in Kokomo upset about the loss of money for the businesses and tradition for those celebrating.

The forecast for the week calls for the fire-prone conditions to only get worse.

Emergency management directors from Benton, Carroll, and Tippecanoe Counties say they haven't reached a decision yet on a disaster declaration but should reach one within the week.