Residents of other cities can contact their police or fire departments to determine whether fireworks are allowed. Fireworks also are legal in unincorporated Sedgwick County. Butler County has imposed no restrictions on using fireworks, said County Administrator Jay Newton. Area residents can shoot fireworks from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day through New Year's Day, except New Year's Eve, when they can shoot them until 1 a.m. to celebrate. Sedgwick County Fire Marshal Greg Thompson said winter offers unique fire safety concerns.
Winter means brown, dry lawns in residential areas and fields green with winter wheat.
He said the county would take precautions for New Year's Eve, including having 16 extra workers on hand. During the summer, the grass is green and our problems have been in outlying areas like dry fields. Just because unincorporated Sedgwick County is allowing fireworks does not mean that all fireworks are OK, Thompson said. Wichita Fire Chief Larry Garcia said his department would also have extra workers on call, even though no fireworks are legal in the city. Violators risk a fine, he said, and weather conditions such as high winds and lack of rain can add to the dangers of shooting fireworks.