Fireworks sales solid as New Year's Day approaches

The new year will come in with more of a "bang" than usual in Middle Georgia, as more fireworks became legal statewide earlier this year.

The law, which allows high-flying explosive fireworks, went into effect July 1, just in time for Independence Day celebrations. That led some companies such as Freedom Fireworks to open year-round stores to meet the demand of Middle Georgians.

"Business has been pretty good in Georgia," said Chesney Butler, a co-owner of Freedom Fireworks. "It's actually been pretty good."

Butler works out of the company's Warner Robins location, and Freedom Fireworks also has stores in Dublin and Eastman. He said sales have been solid but have certainly improved as the holidays approached.

"It varies from week to week, but we did see an uptick prior to Christmas," he said.

Other businesses took a more seasonal approach. Jake's Fireworks, which has locations in Macon on Gray Highway and Mercer University Drive, was open from July 1 through Labor Day. The stores closed for a few months and reopened Dec. 18 for the holiday season.

Rusty Watson, a manager with Jake's Fireworks, said business has been good, but he hopes it gets even better as Georgians get more accustomed to fireworks being legal.

"It will start being more of a tradition," Watson said.

In some of the company's stores, which are located in 10 states, sales for Christmas and New Year's are just as strong as the numbers for Independence Day.

"We think, in time, it will be very popular" in Georgia, Watson said.

Recent heavy rains shouldn't affect sales much, he said. Watson said Georgia's lack of date restrictions on launching fireworks means people are more likely to buy fireworks, even if they have to use them later.

"Most of the time (with) people who want to buy fireworks, rain doesn't stop them," he said.

Lt. Brenda Thomas, interim fire prevention director for the Macon-Bibb County Fire Department, agreed that was likely the case. She added, though, that the wetter conditions might make people's mistakes with fireworks less costly.

"Obviously, with it being wet, it makes it a little better for us," Thomas said.

The biggest risks, she said, generally involve people using fireworks when they're intoxicated or allowing children to use them. Despite that, there were no major incidents reported during the Fourth of July festivities just after the new law went into effect.

"I'm really glad about it because we've been really concerned," Thomas said.

Beyond keeping children and alcohol separate from the fireworks, Thomas said the individual products' packaging would give the best guidance regarding the safest way to use them.

"Just follow the directions, because there's clear directions for how far to be from buildings and things," she said.

Georgia residents are allowed to launch fireworks from 10 a.m. to midnight throughout the year, and those hours are extended to 2 a.m. on July 3, July 4, Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.

To contact writer Jeremy Timmerman, call 744-4331 or find him on Twitter@MTJTimm.

This story was originally published December 29, 2015 at 5:52 PM with the headline "Fireworks sales solid as New Year's Day approaches ."