SPRING HILL, Mo. — Authorities in Spring Hill, Kansas, have instituted a burn ban as hot, dry conditions increase the threat of wildfires in the area – but the ban is bad news for the town’s fireworks retailers.
The city says that the burn ban, which makes any outdoor burning illegal, means that six fireworks vendors in the town about 30 miles south of Kansas City have to stop selling fireworks immediately.
Fireworks vendors in the city say that they are not thrilled with the ban – one vendor says that they stand to lose up to $40,000 in profits, while another says that they now have to move their entire inventory to another location.
The city, which falls under Johnson County Fire District #2, says that weather conditions will determine when the ban is lifted. Anyone caught burning while the ban is in place could face up to a $500 citation.
