Officials urge safety around fireworks

Published 5:04 pm Wednesday, June 30, 2010

The only problems Chilton County officials expect with the inevitable, personal fireworks shows on Sunday will stem from noise keeping working people awake.

Clanton, Lake Mitchell and Thorsby will all be sites of fireworks displays this Fourth of July weekend, but many residents choose to shoot off their own.

They are allowed to do so all over the county, but Clanton Mayor Billy Joe Driver said police officers will enforce the city’s ordinance against fireworks in the city if people start calling to complain.

“They shoot them way on up in the night, and folks have to work on Monday,” Driver said.

As an alternative, Driver encouraged residents to come out to City Park and shoot their fireworks before the city’s show begins at 9 p.m.

Maplesville Police Chief Todd Ingram, Thorsby Fire Chief Lee Gunn and Jemison Fire Chief John Dennis all said residents are welcome to shoot fireworks in their towns–but stressed safety.

“People get hurt every year doing it,” Ingram said. “Especially if it’s dry–be careful.”

“Obviously, they should remember how dangerous fireworks are,” Dennis said.

“We have been very fortunate in the past 19 years: no one has been injured shooting fireworks,” Gunn said.

Clanton Police Chief Brian Stilwell said complaints to his office about noise created by fireworks would be handled on a case-by-case basis.

“We’ll get a bunch Sunday,” he said.