Lafayette Fire Department bans the use of fireworks due to dry conditions

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - The Lafayette Fire Department has banned the use of fireworks at least for now and that's got some area businesses worried.

"The week of the Fourth is when you're going to see about 80% of your customer base come through," said Mar's Firework manager, Kent McPeters.

Mark's Fireworks is on Teal Road and State Road 52 in Lafayette.

McPeters said thanks to Indiana law, his store thrives during firework season. That law allows the use of fireworks from June 29 to July 9 between 5:00 p.m and two hours after sunset.

On July 4, fireworks are permitted from 10:00 a.m. to midnight. McPeters said with the drought and Lafayette's current firework ban, it's the time before June 29 that he is slightly worried about.

"I think that there will still be a few people out there that are a little worried about lighting off fireworks just because of their own property and the risk that may come with that," said McPeters.

The Lafayette Fire Department banned the use of fireworks Thursday evening.

Fire Chief Richard Doyle said anybody who lights off fireworks in city limits can be cited. He said even when people are allowed to use fireworks on June 29, they are still responsible for their actions.

"Even if we can't ban the use of them, you still are under some penalty for an injury or the destruction of property," said Doyle.

Doyle said because conditions are so dry, during the allotted time to set off fireworks, people need to be extra cautious this holiday season.

"Have an extinguishing agent, water, a bucket of water, a hose, sprinkle the area wherever you're going to do it and keep children back," said Doyle.

Doyle said the fire department will lift the firework ban once five or six inches of rain has fallen. He said until then, LPD officers will be on the look out for any violators.

According to dispatchers, counties under a mandatory burn ban include Carroll, Clinton, Fountain, and Tippecanoe. In Clinton and Tippecanoe Counties, fireworks are included in the ban. Benton, Cass, and Montgomery counties remain under a voluntary burn ban.