Safety records good at local fireworks stands

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• Expensive items are hot sellers, stand workers say

Fireworks stands ring Mitchell — and supply enough gunpowder and black powder to keep ears ringing.

But aside from a few sore fingers and an occasional small structure fire over the years, fireworks season has been uneventful here, according to Mitchell Fire Marshal Steve Nedved.

Nedved said fireworks stands in the Mitchell area follow safety rules well.

“Never had a problem,” Nedved said. “We haven’t had any, to my knowledge.”

He and assistant fire marshal Paul Morris, who is also the city’s assistant fire chief, inspect the stands. They ensure fire extinguishers are working and are prominently displayed.

They also check to make sure aisles and exits are wide enough for people to pass through easily and are open and accessible at all times.

“Just the basics of fire safety,” Nedved said.

Morris inspected some stands Thursday, finding minor problems that he asked the owners and opera- tors to correct. No citations were issued.

He plans to return to the stands today to ensure the changes were made.

There are at least six stands around Mitchell. City law bans the sale and use of fireworks within the city limits.

A list of businesses with fireworks licenses issued locally that was provided to The Daily Republic and Morris had numerous errors in it. He said he was going to contact the State Fire Marshal’s Office to determine why the list was inaccurate.

State Fire Marshal Al Christie said there are about 300 fireworks stands in the state. That figure hasn’t changed much over the years, Christie said.

Another number that hasn’t changed is the number of fireworks-related deaths in the state. It’s been zero for many years, Christie said.

“Oh, man, it’s been a number of years,” he said. Christie said he’s been the state’s fire marshal for eight years and doesn’t recall a single death.

An Avera Queen of Peace emergency room staffer in Mitchell said a few fireworks-related cases are seen every year, but it’s not a major problem.

In fact, things are so calm here that Nedved felt comfortable attending the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Md., for the past two weeks.

He advised people to be cautious with fireworks and to carry a pail of water with them to douse supposed “duds” that didn’t ignite.

“It is certainly still a danger,” Nedved said. “It’s worse in a drier year than this.”

Christie said he thinks people have learned how to be careful with fireworks.

“I would hope so, but people need to be safe with them,” he said.

State law allows the sale of fireworks to South Dakotans from June 27 to July 5. Fireworks firms can obtain special licenses to sell to people from other states from May 1 to July 5 and from July 6 to Aug. 31. Wholesale licenses are also available.

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