Louisville, KY (WDRB) -- Last year, some Louisville residents enjoyed larger and more powerful fireworks. People can only legally have ground fireworks in Louisville. That means the fireworks don't fly into the air or explode.
For the last 4th of July, Louisville had a fireworks ordinance that allowed more airborne fireworks. But in December, Mayor Greg Fischer vetoed it, citing public safety.
Click HERE for a list of burn bans in Kentucky.
He says he agrees with police, fire, and EMS that those types of fireworks can be dangerous. Fischer says powerful explosives are not appropriate for our more dense urban environment. But those types of fireworks are allowed in the rest of the state.
Click HERE for a list of burn bans in Indiana.
With the dry conditions, fire officials are glad Louisville is keeping safety in mind when it comes to the 4th of July. There's already been one fireworks-related fire last week when fireworks hit a roof.
As we get closer to the holiday, Louisville Fire and Rescue says it's patrolling fireworks stands to make sure no illegal fireworks are being sold.
Chief Gregory Frederick says, "If we have consumer fireworks being utilized because of lack of rain, due to the hot weather, we anticipate there will be lot of refuse fires, grass fires things like that. Also with temperatures the way they are, if an illegal firework is utilized, the potential of it landing on a roof of someone else's house can start a fire."
Under the Louisville ordinance any fireworks that have wings, fins, or can fly are illegal. Firecrackers and bottle rockets aren't allowed in Jefferson County either.
Right now, Kentucky has 78 counties under a burn ban. Oldham County is on the list, but Jefferson County is not.
Fire officials think Jefferson County could be added to the burn ban if this dry weather continues. Just about every county in Indiana is under a burn ban.
City officials say leave the fireworks up to the professionals. You can watch a large fireworks show along the Waterfront Tuesday and Wednesday nights.
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