4/17/2009

Say yes to fireworks

Comment

Say yes to fireworks

I would like to encourage any Saline County citizen who is interested in lifting the fireworks ban to attend one of the meetings set up by the county commissioners to discuss this issue. Meetings will be Tuesday at the Assaria City Building on Wednesday at Hedville Fire Station and April 27 (Monday) at the City-County Building, Room 107. All meetings will begin at 7 p.m.

Many have expressed fears of increasing fires in the county if fireworks are allowed. I would like to try to ease some of those fears. I have been involved in the public safety field since 1975. There could be fires started by fireworks used irresponsibly, but many more fires are ignited by discarded cigarettes, controlled burns out of control, sparks from passing trains, and harvest equipment.

It has been my experience that people are more careless with fireworks if they are using them illegally.

I do believe that fireworks stands should follow certain rules and have a safety inspection. Saline County is proposing to charge $1,000 for a permit to sell fireworks for four days. Surely some of that fee could cover the cost of inspecting the place of business.

It appears that Salina Journal editor and publisher Tom Bell is strongly against lifting the fireworks ban. His employer, though, has no difficulty accepting money for advertising the fireworks sold every year to the many Saline County customers.

-- ED WINEBRENNER, Culver, Salina Regional Health Center, owner of Crazy Ed's Fireworks, board member, Culver Rural Fire District No. 5

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