Fireworks and Drought Conditions Cause Concern for Everyone's Safety

Happy Fourth of July everyone! 

This holiday, it is expected to be above 100 degrees, and with the lack a rain over the last few months the ground has become very dry and susceptible to fire. For everyone’s safety and security in the City of Wildwood, do not purchase and light fireworks within your neighborhood or the City of Wildwood. The Wildwood Precinct of the St. Louis County Police and City of Wildwood are supporting a zero-tolerance on the use of fireworks within the city limits given the dry conditions.

In fact the sales and use of fireworks by individuals is illegal in the City of Wildwood and St. Louis County. Our municipal code Section 240.140 subsection B regarding the Sale, Possession and Use Prohibited states:

“It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to sell, possess, offer for sale, expose for sale, give, use, discharge or explode fireworks within the City of Wildwood …” 

Only those that seek permits for fireworks displays may possess any type of firework within the City and the fire districts have the final say whether or not those permits are issued and maintained. Several of those permits have been pulled because of the fire risk and high temperatures. Don’t let yourself or your family members become victims this holiday. 

I cannot stress this enough to my friends and neighbors that the current weather conditions make this an issue of serious concern. 

The fire districts that serve the City of Wildwood (Eureka, Metro West and Monarch Fire Districts) see more calls than normal during the evening of the 4^th and this year I would like to see fewer instances requiring their assistance for their sake and ours. Fireworks and the resulting issues that result in increased calls and responses that both the Police and Fire departments must respond to.  While it’s their job to respond, it would be better if they didn’t have to at all for this reason. The current drought conditions making the ground and grass very dry, shooting off fireworks and having hot embers fall to the ground is just asking for trouble to occur. 

Neighboring municipalities have either canceled or rescheduled firework displays because of the fire threat. So if you want to really see a show on the 4th, head downtown for the one still scheduled to occur with Fair Saint Louis. 

Heck, in a few weeks, weather willing, we may have the opportunity for additional firework shows as some communities reschedule their respective events. For now, though, be safe and avoid the risk altogether.

Finally, if you find a neighbor setting off their own version of a Fair Saint Louis fireworks display, please contact the police at 636-458-9194 or 911 if there is an emergency.