Lighting up the sky with fireworks to celebrate the new year is an age-old tradition. And unfortunately, it can be a dangerous one.
Due to the danger, the city of Greenwood has an ordinance prohibiting the use of fireworks in the city limits.
"There are valid reasons to have this ordinance," said Fire Chief Larry Griggs. "Fireworks are very dangerous and can be deadly."
But that doesn't seem to stop people from using them, Griggs said. "Even though there is an ordinance against them, every year people shoot them anyway."
Deputy Police Chief Huntley Nevels said shooting fireworks in the city is not a major problem. However, there are some complaints each year, he said.
"When we get a complaint, we send an officer out to investigate," Nevels said. "If they are caught with fireworks, we confiscate them.
"We know kids are going to shoot fireworks," he said, "but we try to advise them to go out in the county and shoot them."
The Police Department is strict with its enforcement of the ordinance. Nevels said officers will pick up kids who are breaking the ordinance, but they are typically released to their parents after the fireworks have been confiscated.
There will not be extra officers on duty New Year's Eve, Nevels said, but they will be more visible. "We will have the guys on patrol make the rounds more frequently in all parts of the city. Them being more visible will deter occurrences."
Nevels said the danger of lighting fireworks in the city is the inability to control them. "They can cause house fires and grass fires," he said.
The ordinance is all about safety. "At this time of year, no one needs to get burned out," he said.
What tends to happen is the fireworks get out of control and get lodged on a wooden porch, other wooden objects or in dry grass and smolder, Griggs said. Several hours later, they will ignite and cause a fire, especially if it has not rained in a while, he said.
"Most people use them at night, and when they are finished, they leave them," Griggs said.
They don't check where they land, he said. And it only takes a little spark to start a fire.
Griggs said his department responds to blazes started by fireworks every year.
"A lot of times, parents let their children have them without supervision," Griggs said.
"If children use them, they must have adult supervision," he said. "These are really dangerous devices. You can see on television how things can go awry with fireworks."
Fireworks are legal in the county with the exception of housing subdivisions, said Leflore County Sheriff Ricky Banks.
"It is illegal to use them in housing subdivisions, because of the chance of a house catching on fire or because neighbors are trying to sleep," he said.
Banks said there has not been a ban on selling them, however.
"It's been many years since we had any accidents with fireworks," Banks said.
There also have been fewer people with fireworks injuries going to the emergency room at Greenwood Leflore Hospital.
Dr. Michael Stokes said the emergency staff hasn't seen as many of these patients this year as in the past.
He said the reduction in injuries may be a result of the cold temperatures. "It's been too cold to get out and shoot them," he said.
But when patients do come in with injuries related to the use of fireworks, they are mostly children and young adults.
"It is mostly kids who were unsupervised," Stokes said. "We don't see many older than their early 20s."
Most of the injuries are to first- or second-degree burns to the hands and other extremities.
"They will hold the fireworks in their hands too long, and they will explode," Stokes said.
Lisa Chandler, who works at Fireworks City U.S.A. on U.S. 82, said children have gotten away from using the small items such as bottle rockets and firecrackers.
"They want the big stuff," she said. "They want to see the stars in the sky."
Parents no longer give children the small fireworks and send them out on their own, Chandler said.
"There has to be supervision with the bigger items," she said, "so there is less of a chance for accidents."
Christy Robertson, also an employee at the U.S. 82 fireworks stand, said the big sellers this year are the Heart Stoppers, which are 20-shot star bursts. The large variety packs with a little bit of everything also are big hits, she said.
"Mostly it's aerial stuff that shoots up in the air and bursts into pretty colors," Robertson said.
