Enjoy responsibly

As June starts to creep closer toward July, thoughts naturally turn to Independence Day and, of course, fireworks. However, before you start lighting the fuses it’s important to keep in mind the town ordinances.

Under Section 11 of the Town Code, “It shall be unlawful for any person to offer for sale at retail or wholesale, or sell at retail or wholesale, or give away, use, discharge or detonate any fireworks in the Town, or within five miles of the corporate limits of the Town.” However, the code also allows for displays and sale of fireworks, provided the proper permit has been given. The code also provides for the seizure and disposal of illegal fireworks by the chief of police if necessary.

In recent years, town council has provided for a space near the skate park where people can set off their personal caches of pyrotechnics prior to the Thermopolis Volunteer Fire Department main show on top of T Hill. Though there were a few hiccups in getting the idea started, it has since developed into its own event to be enjoyed and allows people to shoot off fireworks without possibly being cited.

Of course, fear of repercussions isn’t the only reason to keep from lighting off fireworks around town. We’ve seen plenty of rain in the past couple weeks, but also plenty of sun, ideal conditions for those wild grasses and weeds to get growing and dry out. With the reports of devastating wildfires around the state and country, we need to be doing our part to prevent the same thing happening here. Ma Nature has already hit us a few times with some lightning strike fires; she doesn’t need our help.

Certainly, our country’s independence is cause for celebration, put do it responsibly. Those who don’t want to put their money toward fireworks they can’t set off in town except during the designated area and time are encouraged to put their bucks instead to the fire department’s annual show and raise it back up.