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Despite drought concerns, Utah vendors say firework sales are comparable to last year

Posted at 9:57 PM, Jun 26, 2021
and last updated 2021-06-27 01:05:35-04

SANDY, Utah — Firework stands all over Utah are opening up and selling to their first customers as the July 4th and 24th holidays approach.

Matt Shadle, a fireworks professional and the owner of Mad Matt’s Fireworks, says this year's sales are pretty much on par with last year's.

“Things are about on track, I’d say,” Shadle said.

But there are a lot more questions now than in previous years.

There have been a lot of new restrictions — as well as older rules re-emphasized — throughout the last few weeks due to wildfire concerns.

WATCH: Salt Lake Valley fire chiefs ask residents to skip personal fireworks

However, Shadle says that hasn’t really slowed down business so far at his stand on the corner of 9000 South and State Street in Sandy.

“A lot of people are coming in saying, 'What’s going on?' What they can and can’t do,” Shadle said.

While FOX 13 was there, more than a dozen people came into the tent, some buying hundreds of dollars of product for their neighborhood shows.

“We bought some sets who were small, which is going to be a pre-show, and we bought the big ones that were going to be a finale,” one man said while loading up his truck.

Another customer shopping around was Joshua Myhlhousen.

"We always like to set off the fireworks… We have a really good show,” he said.

Myhlhousen has been setting off fireworks for years with his family and knows the best way to do it safely, but he warns others who may be inexperienced to do their research on how to be safe.

Shadle is preaching safety this year more than others, and he says more questions are being asked with the drought increasing wildfire risk.

“People say… it's not safe," Shadle said. "Well, it's perfectly safe.”

READ: How rain helps with short term fire danger, but not so much with drought

Shadle says he and his staff are there to answer any questions.

"We are here to teach you how to do it," he added.

Many other stands have yet to open but will on Monday or later next week.

Fireworks are also not allowed to be set off until July 2-5, and then from the 22nd through the 25th.

Safety measures include stabilizing fireworks with bricks, keeping water handy, having adult supervision, hosing down fireworks after use, and leaving them sitting overnight in order to not catch on fire.

"This is how we celebrate… this is what we do to show we like being free,” Shadle added. "We want people to be safe… It's nice to be an American… I am proud to be an American, and I hope you are too.”