Tuesday, June 18, 2013

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Dry conditions cause concern over Fourth of July celebrations
Posted: 06.25.2012 at 5:01 PM
Brooke Hasch

Brooke Hasch is a KHQA This Morning co-host for KHQA.

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Customers at The Fireworks Superstore off Highway 61 near Hannibal come from 300 miles away to stock up on their favorite fireworks.
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HANNIBAL, MO. -- It's the same story across the Tri-States, extremely dry conditions along with city and county-wide burn bans. Meanwhile, hundreds of people continue to stock up on fireworks for next week's Fourth of July celebrations.

"Some people have said if we don't get a little rain, they're going to delay their show, or some people are shooting in areas where there's not a worry," Tom Marx, owner of The Fireworks Superstore said.

Customers at The Fireworks Superstore off Highway 61 near Hannibal come from 300 miles away to stock up on their favorites, and most we talked to said they'll be extra cautious this year with the high temperatures and dry grounds.

"I can't remember it being this dry in the last couple of years. I know last year, we got quite a bit of rain before the fourth," Marx said.

John Baker with the Hannibal Fire Department says conditions we're experiencing now are more common later on in the summer.

"You certainly don't want to inhibit people's celebrations on the fourth, but you really have to look at fire safety. Even the sparklers, if the youngsters want to use those, keep a bucket of water handy. Even if they're out, they're still really hot so just drop them in the bucket, plus if you've got the bucket of water there and something does spark and ignite, you've got the water source there," Baker said.

"We'll have a hose out there just in case, shoot on concrete and not around grass," Eric Hayes, from Davenport, Iowa said.

Fireworks by private parties are allowed in Missouri, but not in Illinois or Iowa. Right now, burn bans are in effect for all of Hannibal and Pike County, Mo. 

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