No bangs for your bucks

Roadside vendors may be selling fireworks, but backyard displays are banned in the county.

By LOGAN NEILL
Published June 28, 2007

Storm clouds fill the sky over a tent selling fireworks on State Road 50 in Spring on Wednesday afternoon. Fireworks sales are off to a slow start in Hernando County, which has banned them.
	[Maurice Rivenbark | Times]

SPRING HILL - If you're planning to have a little blast this Fourth of July you could wind up on the wrong side of the law. Despite the recent increase in afternoon showers, Hernando County's ban on fireworks remains in effect.

The ban, which prohibits the use of most fireworks and incendiary devices, including firecrackers, roman candles and bottle rockets and other flying fireworks, was put into effect June 12 by the County Commission at the recommendation of fire officials.

Technically, almost all fireworks are illegal in Florida except for sparklers and a few other "novelty" low-explosive fireworks. However, local vendors can allow customers to purchase bigger fireworks if they sign a waiver promising to use them for one of a handful of approved purposes and that they are least 18 years of age.

Though Hernando's ban on the use of fireworks isn't helping to boost sales at roadside fireworks stands, it doesn't seem to be hurting much either.

"Things don't usually get very busy for us until a few days before the Fourth, " said Sharon Hunnewell-Johnson, president of Galaxy Fireworks Inc. of Tampa. "We'll have to see, but we're hoping the ban won't affect our sales at all."

Although her company operates three stands in Hernando County, Hunnewell-Johnson said she was unaware of the fireworks ban before Wednesday. She worries that the county may be unfairly singling out fireworks dealers.

"I'm not happy about it, " said Hunnewell-Johnson, who has frequently battled local governments to keep the sale of fireworks legal.

"It seems like (county officials) may be over-reacting a bit. To me, it seems like we've been getting plenty of rain. Maybe they should take a closer look at the state law."

Despite the threat of up to a $500 fine and/or 60 days in jail for violating the ban, Terri Little says she plans to celebrate the holiday the way she usually does -- with a small fireworks display in her back yard.

On Wednesday she left TNT Fireworks on Cortez Boulevard with several boxes of bottle rockets and firecrackers. She also bought sparklers, which are not affected by the ban.

Little believes that her diligence with the fireworks will be enough to keep any risks to a minimum.

"I'm not stupid, " Little said. "We do this every year with no problem. No one gets hurt and nothing gets burned because we're not careless."

According to Frank DeFrancesco, assistant chief for Hernando County Fire Rescue, fireworks in the hands of the public are likely to remain off-limits until dry conditions subside.

"It's going to take a good amount of rain to make me feel comfortable about having the ban lifted, " DeFrancesco said. "Right now, things are very dry. If you get a hundred or so fireworks going off wrong, it makes for a tough day for us."

On a scale from 0 to 800, with 800 being the driest, the Florida Division of Forestry currently lists Hernando County's drought index at 615, which according to forestry division supervisor Aaron Albury is unusual for the latter part off June.

"With the dry spring we've had, it's taken longer for the rainfall to catch up, " Albury offered. "The good thing is that we're in the season when rain is going to get more and more frequent. It's just a matter of time."

Hernando County Fire Rescue Chief Michael Nickerson said that his department will continue to monitor drought conditions daily. If conditions improve, he will consider recommending to the commission that it lift the ban.

"We don't want to put a damper on anyone's fun on the Fourth of July, " Nickerson said. "We just want people to be safe."

Logan Neill can be reached at 848-1435 or lneill@sptimes.com.

[Last modified June 27, 2007, 20:28:52]