Rogers Sets Limits on Fireworks Usage
By: KNWA-TV, Fayetteville
Updated: July 2, 2012
"Anytime you deal with consumer fireworks, it's a risky event," says Tom Jenkins, the Rogers Fire Chief.
But the City of Rogers is one of the few places not banning fireworks this 4th of July.
"Quite frankly bans on fireworks are ineffective at best," says Jenkins.
Because Chief Jenkins says people rarely abide by the rules.
So instead, the city's only allowing the explosions on July 4th from 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.
"At the same time we have to balance the citizens right to celebrate the 4th of July and do so in a manner that's safe."
So if you live in Rogers you can light up the sky...except with bottle rockets or anything else you can shoot off with a stick. Those are banned altogether.
"We've analyzed those areas where we have some risk and it is dangerous, but anytime you have a Fourth of July event and have consumer fireworks there's a danger associated with that."
So they're trusting folks to use common sense.
"When we start to see vegetation cured and cooked because of the heat duration, it starts to burn much quicker."
Making one little flame a big problem in just seconds.
"We have additional crews that are working at fire stations on the 4th."
But firefighters are leaving a lot of responsibility with the public.
"We feel like this is a good decision that balances both safety and common sense."
As long as folks abide by the rules.
But the City of Rogers is one of the few places not banning fireworks this 4th of July.
"Quite frankly bans on fireworks are ineffective at best," says Jenkins.
Because Chief Jenkins says people rarely abide by the rules.
So instead, the city's only allowing the explosions on July 4th from 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.
"At the same time we have to balance the citizens right to celebrate the 4th of July and do so in a manner that's safe."
So if you live in Rogers you can light up the sky...except with bottle rockets or anything else you can shoot off with a stick. Those are banned altogether.
"We've analyzed those areas where we have some risk and it is dangerous, but anytime you have a Fourth of July event and have consumer fireworks there's a danger associated with that."
So they're trusting folks to use common sense.
"When we start to see vegetation cured and cooked because of the heat duration, it starts to burn much quicker."
Making one little flame a big problem in just seconds.
"We have additional crews that are working at fire stations on the 4th."
But firefighters are leaving a lot of responsibility with the public.
"We feel like this is a good decision that balances both safety and common sense."
As long as folks abide by the rules.
