Firefighters urge caution with fireworks during Fourth of July - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

With at least six central Indiana counties banning fireworks, Wednesday night's July 4th celebrations will be a little different this year.

Marion, Hamilton, Boone, Hendricks, Johnson and Shelby Counties have all issued bans on personal fireworks use. But for other counties, like Hancock, Morgan and Monroe, it's business as usual this Independence Day.

See a list of fireworks bans here.

It's not a typical holiday crowd at one Greenwood fireworks store Eyewitness News visited Wednesday. The shelves were full, but the shop was empty.

"Just nothing. I mean, yesterday should have been one of the busiest days of the summer and I didn't do well at all," said Jason Mueller, Fireworks Shop.

He sold just $98 worth of merchandise Tuesday instead of the usual thousands.

Johnson County, like many across central Indiana, put an emergency ban on personal fireworks displays because of the drought. It's left Mueller, a teacher who hoped to turn a summer profit, in a drought too.

"Just sitting here with a lonely computer, doing what I can to pass the time," he said. "The locals just haven't either been interested or have been so scared off by hey, my grass is dry and I don't want to risk it."

In Bloomington, there is no ban and so on this holiday, the fireworks are selling and people think they can still set them off safely.

Tony Wyatt and his family put on a show every year. The only difference this time is more safety for what sparks.

"Water the yard around where you're at really good and just have a good open area where they can't get out into the trees and stuff, out into the woods," he said.

Those are precautions echoed by firefighters. Home fireworks displays can cause a fire in mere seconds, and they spread four times faster in dry conditions. That's why crews in Monroe County are readying for a long night.

"With the conditions, I'm sure it'll be busier than normal," said Sgt. Kyle Mundy, Bloomington Fire Department.

They're hoping people choose not to light their own.

"It's way too dry and if you could get by without setting any fireworks off at all, that's the best thing," said Sgt. Mundy.

Even where there are bans, fire crews are fully staffed and prepared for the worst.

"We hope it's not a busy night but we understand there's probably gonna be some folks who ignore the ban," said Capt. Kevin Killinger, Bargersville Fire Department.