Fayette County, WV (WOAY) – Fireworks tents are back across the region, and with a holiday weekend ahead, vendors are betting on a busy season.
Gary McGuire has run TNT Fireworks in the lot at the Fayetteville Walmart for six years. He says the 250th anniversary of the country, combined with a 4th of July that falls on a Saturday, has him expecting a strong season, even with prices up.
“We’re very excited about being 250th anniversary of our country,” McGuire said. “We’re really expecting a lot of people to come and get a lot of fireworks just because, you know, all the prices are up right now. And I believe that it’d be a good time to get your own fireworks and our TNT right here and have your own show save you a lot of money.”
McGuire says the biggest rush comes right before the holiday.
“Now on the second, third and fourth, that’s when we see the stuff fly out of here,” he said.
With the celebrating comes a reminder to do it safely. Oak Hill Police Deputy Chief Shannon Prince says the biggest dangers come from not using common sense.
“Consuming alcohol and setting fireworks off. That could be dangerous,” Prince said. “Holding the fireworks when they light it, actually holding it in their hand. Some of them have a pretty quick fuse on it and it could blow up in their hands or trying to relight one that doesn’t go off, that can cause an explosion close to the body or to the face.”
Prince says when and where you can legally set fireworks off varies from town to town, so he encourages people to check their local city ordinances before lighting anything up. He adds that repeat complaints can carry a penalty.
“If we return and keep getting calls to the same people, they’ll usually get a citation,” Prince said. “And I think that citation is $100.”
Prince also reminds celebrators to be considerate of those around them.
“Keep your neighbors in mind. A lot of people that have pets and dogs, it’s kind of a traumatic for dogs,” Prince said. “So just keep your neighbors in mind. Everybody stay safe and enjoy the holiday.”
