July 4th is Sunday and with that comes the sale and discharge of fireworks.
Fireworks sale and release dates and times in Finney County are different this year, they no longer coincide with each other.
Fireworks sale is permitted in Finney County from June 27 to July 5 and can only be fired from July 1 to 5 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Fireworks violations can result in legal costs of up to $ 190.
Garden City Fire Marshal Gene Robertson advises the community to take precautions when setting fireworks during this time.
“Be careful with fireworks, they are explosive, they can cause bodily harm,” he said.
He recommends that an adult over 18, or over 16, depending on their degree of responsibility, be the person who will light the fireworks and that they should only light one at a time.
“Do not light multiple fireworks because there might be a chance, with a fireworks display going off, if part of that fireworks display turns on someone,” he said. declared.
Robertson said young children shouldn’t be left near fireworks, and people should have an established safety zone of around 50 feet around fireworks so that if something shoots wrong and hits someone. ‘one, it may be partially extinguished.
Robertson said they don’t see many house fires due to fireworks, but they do see a number of garbage fires after people pick up the remains of the fireworks, where some may still be hot or have embers, and place them in a garbage can.
The container then catches fire.
“We’re just advising people that if you’re going to be using the fireworks and picking up your trash, pour a bucket of water over it so it’s cool and outside,” he said. “Let them settle overnight, then throw them out in the morning. “
Sand or dirt can also be used, Robertson said, all it takes is one agent to keep the fire from spreading.
Robertson also recommends that people think about where they shoot the fireworks, especially if they shoot them in an open, dry field.
“We had a few wheat field fires today (Monday), which is why we are telling people to be very careful about shooting fireworks, especially in farmers’ fields or in the county where there is an open space, ”he said. . “If any of these stray fireworks come out in a wheat field, it could be very devastating for this farmer and he could lose his crop and a lot of money.”
Erinn Reyes, administrative assistant to the police chief of the Garden City Police Department, reminds people not to call 9-1-1 when it is not an emergency during the bank holiday weekend of the 4 July.
“It’s the time of year, especially with the fireworks and on July 4th we get a lot of complaints, so just remind people not to call 9-1-1 if not. not a life-threatening emergency, ”she said.
Reyes said to call the GCPD non-urgent number 620-276-1300 to file a report on the fireworks violations and not to report on their Facebook page because it is not monitored 24 hours a day. 24 and 7 days a week.
“Even it turns out it’s nothing, whether it’s fireworks or some other kind of non-emergency call it, there’s no problem with that,” said she declared. “If it’s not a life-threatening emergency or any other emergency, don’t call 9-1-1, please don’t do that.
Here are some safety tips for fireworks:
- Read and follow the instructions on the fireworks label.
- Alcohol and fireworks don’t mix, have a “designated shooter” for fireworks.
- Wear eye protection when lighting fireworks.
- Store fireworks in a cool, dry place. Do not carry them in pockets.
- Do not try to reignite malfunctioning fireworks.
- Never aim fireworks at any person, building or animal.
- Do not tilt any part of the body over the fireworks.
For a more comprehensive list of fireworks safety tips, visit the Garden City Fire Department Facebook page at facebook.com/GCKSFire.
Garden City activities July 4:
- The Garden City fireworks display will begin around 9:45 p.m. and can be seen from the parking lot of the Finney County Exhibition Building or the Lee Richardson Zoo.
- The Municipal Orchestra will hold a concert on the West Green at the Lee Richardson Zoo, with the concert starting at 8 p.m. Vehicle entry will be free from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Participants are invited to stay after the concert to watch the fireworks display. The zoo closes at 7 p.m.
- Garden Rapids at The Big Pool will be open during regular Sunday hours, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Entry is free with appropriate ID for serving military personnel and veterans.
The Finney County Historical Museum will be closed July 4 and 5 and there will be no tours of Fulton House on Sundays, but there will still be tours on Saturdays from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday at Stevens Park there will be a free screening of the movie “Coco”. Garden City Parks and Recreation Director Aaron Stewart said the screening was to make up for movie night at Garden Rapids, which was canceled due to lightning earlier this season.
