The Orbit Fireworks tent on Highway 182 just west of Starkville nearly sold out of some of its products for the Fourth of July this year.
Eric Ferguson, who runs the tent with his 16-year-old son Slade, said it was clear that people wanted to get out of their houses thanks to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s all about getting out with your family and having a good time, since you can’t be around a whole lot of people right now,” Ferguson said.
Sales for New Year’s Eve, the only other holiday that drives the sale and use of fireworks both in general and in the Golden Triangle, have been average so far but are increasing daily, Orbit owner Deborah Turman said.
She and Jon Lee, president of Alabama-based Ninja Fireworks, agree that people will want to celebrate the end of a particularly tough year. Orbit has eight locations in the area — two near Starkville, three in Columbus and one each in West Point, Louisville and Macon — and Ninja Fireworks has a location in Columbus.
Both Lee and Turman said increased demand for fireworks has driven prices up, but this has not deterred customers.
Lee predicts a 20 to 30 percent increase in the sale and use of fireworks on New Year’s Eve this year unless bad weather gets in the way.
“It’s hard to shoot fireworks in the rain, and it’s going to rain on the 31st,” Lee said. “We might not see that 30-percent (increase). We might see a 30-percent drop from what we normally do.”
Droughts in the summer also interfere with sales sometimes if cities or counties issue a burn ban, Lee said.
“It’s a very risky business to be in because we’re only open eight days each season, so it’s an industry where you’re only open 16 days a year, and you’ve got the weather to dance around,” he said.
The use of fireworks inside the city limits of both Columbus and Starkville is prohibited. Columbus has an ordinance making it illegal, and Starkville abides by the National Fire Protection Association code.
Starkville also prohibits the sale of fireworks in the city, so Orbit’s two locations in Oktibbeha County are just outside city limits.
The Starkville Fire Department is responsible for issuing a court summons to citizens who use fireworks in the city, but Fire Marshal Mark McCurdy said the vast majority of violators stop as soon as the police give them a warning and no citations are issued.
“Most people comply once you tell them, ‘Hey, you’re not supposed to shoot fireworks in the city, please stop,'” McCurdy said. “It’s very, very rare that you have to go through with actual tickets or a court order.”
Lowndes and Oktibbeha counties have no limitations on the use of fireworks outside the cities. Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Office responds to calls of apparent shots fired that are actually just fireworks every Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve, Capt. Brett Watson said, but he does not expect an increase in those calls this week.
Columbus Police Department issued only two fireworks citations during the Fourth of July this year compared to six last year, Chief Fred Shelton said, likely because the city had a curfew at the time keeping people indoors. CPD issued 16 citations on New Year’s Eve last year.
Columbus’ fine for the use of fireworks is $252.
Turman emphasized following the instructions on the fireworks package in order to use them safely. Lee said people should be careful to keep children and pets away from fireworks, have a bucket of water handy to put out any stray sparks and be sure not to keep any fireworks debris near a building in case of accidental fire.
Lee encouraged safety and caution in order to enhance the celebration of the end of a hard year and the anticipation of a better one.
“Especially after a pandemic year, everyone should be wanting to get away from 2020,” he said.
Tess Vrbin was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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