Want to shoot off aerial fireworks in Wichita? City is considering changing its laws

Proposed revisions to Wichita’s fireworks ordinance could soon allow people to buy and shoot off aerial fireworks that have been banned within city limits.

But fines for violations could also go up.

As it stands, the ordinance bars Wichitans from lighting fireworks with sparks that go higher than 6 feet.

But a committee created by Wichita Fire Chief Tammy Snow is recommending that the City Council implement a $10 permit fee per location allowing property owners to shoot off aerials from July 1-4, starting this year.

The committee also recommends legalizing the sale of aerial fireworks within city limits starting in 2024.

“Right now, throughout Sedgwick County, aerials are allowed everywhere,” acting Fire Marshal Chris Dugan said during a City Council workshop Tuesday. “There’s different times and dates by jurisdiction, but if we can mirror Sedgwick County, which mirrors the state, I think that will take a lot of ambiguity out of our local ordinance.”

Legal shooting hours would remain from 10 a.m. to midnight.

“Once midnight hits, we would have a zero tolerance policy for fireworks violations,” Dugan said.

Shooting illegal fireworks or setting them off outside of legal hours currently carries a fine of $250. The committee recommends increasing fines to $1,000 for a first offense, $1,500 for a second offense and $2,000 for a third offense.

Dugan said the fire department responded to 71 fireworks-related calls last summer, and six structure fires caused by fireworks resulted in an estimated $181,000 in property damage. Local hospitals reported 17 fireworks-related injuries.

Mayor Brandon Whipple said he’s concerned about the potential safety impact of loosening restrictions on aerials within the city.

“One of the reasons why we do have an ordinance that’s different than the rest of the county is, we’re an urban core. We have old houses, old neighborhoods,” Whipple said.

He said he routinely finds remnants of fireworks on his roof after the Fourth of July, and he’s always wary about stray fireworks setting dry leaves ablaze.

“When I talk about our firework ordinance to folks, it’s all about safety. It’s not about trying to, I guess, eliminate folks’ ability to have fun,” Whipple said. “We’re not interested in stopping people from having fun. We don’t want grandma’s house to burn down that’s just down the block because one of these landed on her roof.”

Snow said structure fires related to fireworks are primarily caused by bottle rockets, which would remain illegal if the proposed revisions to the ordinance were approved.

She said another common issue is people disposing of fireworks in plastic trash cans that may catch fire. The committee discussed a possible partnership with local fireworks vendors to distribute tin cans for safe disposal with the purchase of fireworks.

The fireworks committee will present its recommendations to district advisory boards in March and April, and the City Council will likely vote on the proposed changes in May.