By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Looking ahead to the Independence Day holiday, the city of Hays is reminding citizens of the local ordinance regarding fireworks.

According to Ryan Hagans, interim fire chief, “consumer fireworks may be only sold within the city limits July 2, 3 and 4 unless the city commission suspends the sale and use of fireworks for safety reasons.” Fireworks may be sold in Hays during all hours on those dates.

All consumer fireworks legal for sale and use in Kansas are permitted to be sold and used in the Hays city limits. Bottle rockets and skyrockets are prohibited by state law.

Despite a statewide drought, late spring rains in Hays have made conditions favorable for Fourth of July fireworks.

The hours for discharging fireworks within the city limits are 10 a.m.-11 p.m. July 2-4.

“Persons using fireworks are responsible for cleaning up all the debris,” Hagans added. “Those who are found in violation of that may be fined up to $500 and 30 days in jail.”

The Ellis County Commission Monday gave the go-ahead to Director of Fire and Emergency Management Darin Myers to draft a resolution approving the discharge of fireworks within the unincorporated areas of Ellis County.

Myers recommended the dates and times fireworks are allowed as the same as the city of Hays.

In Ellis, city ordinance allows fireworks to be sold June 27-July 5 and discharged July 3-5.