Cookouts, music and July Fourth fireworks shows.

They all go hand-in-hand, yes, as American favorites for the summer holiday. 

But as far as shooting off fireworks goes, Mexico Public Safety Department Chief Brice Mesko asks that people who want to shoot fireworks take precautions this July Fourth season.

Two of which are that individuals need to know that fireworks use is illegal inside city limits and that anyone who does use fireworks outside city limits needs to ensure property owners extend permission for fireworks to be shot.

“Mexico does not make an exception for Fourth of July,” Mesko said about fireworks’ discharge. “Some communities do. Our take is that if they’re illegal the other 50 weeks of the year, they’re just as dangerous during the Fourth of July holiday.”

The community will have two fireworks shows this year: July 4 at the Optimist Park and July 5 near Tyronn Lue Park.

Mesko said fireworks are popular in Missouri, and he understands that, but “they really don’t have a place in a community where houses are 60 feet away from each other.” Plus, he said,  there are pets, people and cars to take into consideration, and there is too much possibility of property damage.

“All of that stuff does in fact happen,” he said. “Every couple of years, we’ll have some kind of firework fire. Every few years, there’s some kind of injuries; we’re usually fortunate that they’re pretty minor.”

Mesko said that Consumer Product Safety Commission data from 2023 estimated that across the United States there were 9,700 emergency room visits because of fireworks. He said there were eight deaths, and 66% of the injuries and deaths occurred the week before and after the Fourth of July.

“So, the very most important thing is, when people spend the money on these fireworks, they need to have a plan of where they’re going to shoot them, and it cannot be in Mexico, so they need to make another plan,” he said. “If you do use fireworks, the safety rules are to use them one at a time, don’t let small children use them, have water available to put out any fires, do not re-light or attempt to reuse fireworks that didn’t discharge properly and don’t use them while impaired.” 

In town, police use their judgment on fireworks’ discharge violations, Mesko said, explaining that if people are using them in the street, for example, they will not likely get warnings. But if someone is discharging on them on their own property in a responsible manner, police will likely give a warning on first offense.

“But everyone has to remember that that warning is in fact what it is - they then have to stop,” he said, noting the violator can’t think that the police will keep dropping by and giving warnings. “We always try to be reasonable with everybody, but they just really have no place.” Tickets and juvenile referrals can be given for violations, he said, and sometimes delayed summonses can be given, too.

Mesko also discussed driving while intoxicated during the July Fourth holiday weekend, and last year, the Missouri Highway Patrol found that 382 crashes and 159 injuries and eight fatalities on roadways in the state. The highway patrol made 147 DWI arrests and 11 boating white impaired arrests, as the highway patrol also performs water patrol as well, Mesko said. He said while he understands that drinking is a part of celebrations, people should be responsible and not operate a vehicle. At the fireworks displays at the parks, Mesko said people should not bring their fireworks and discharge them. 

“Especially at those events, there's really no room for your own fireworks,” Mesko said. “Just come and watch the show that’s being put on.”

The Ledger contacted other cities in Audrain County regarding their laws on fireworks. 

In Auxvasse, City Clerk Lindsey Masek explained the town’s regulations for fireworks, pertaining to possession and discharge. There are no fireworks displays in town this year.

Residents are allowed to have fireworks in their possession, but they are not able to sell fireworks to a child under the age of 14, unless they are supervised by a parent. However, Masek said, it is unlawful for any person to possess, use, discharge or ignite those fireworks classified by the United States Department of Transportation as ground salutes, commonly known as "cherry bombs," "M-80's," "M-100's," "M-1000's," and various other tubular salutes that exceed the limits set for Class C common fireworks by the United States Department of Transportation for explosive composition.

As far as discharging fireworks, residents are allowed to discharge fireworks between June 27 and July 11, between the times of 8 a.m.-11 p.m. However, they cannot be discharged in any business districts, parks, streets or any other public areas. They are also not allowed to be discharged within 300 feet of any church or within 100 feet of where fireworks are being sold, Masek said. A city ordinance states that the fire chief may prohibit for a specified period of time the discharge, shooting, setting off or ignition of fireworks within the corporate limits of the city if he “deems such to be a fire hazard.”