KANSAS CITY, Kan. --
Careless smokers and illegal fireworks are forcing fire inspectors in KCK to put in long hours to keep residents safe.If you go to any fireworks stand in the metro, you'll see the signs that read: No Smoking. But not everyone follows the rules.
Russell Williams owns a fireworks stand near 5th Street and Parallel Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas.
"You get people that come past, they'll pull up with cigarettes and smoking and to me it's a serious issue," said Williams.
Williams has built and operated his stand for the past 10 years. He says the safety of the children is his top priority.
That's a priority shared by the four KCK fire inspectors responsible for the 65 fireworks stands throughout the city.
KCK has more fireworks stands than any other city. Independence has 11 fireworks stands. Riverside has 9, and Raytown has just three.
"We'll make surprise visits to these stands to make sure they're meeting all the fireworks codes," said Craig Duke, assistand fire chief for the Kansas City, Kansas Fire Department.
Duke agrees that careless smokers pose an immediate threat, but says illegal fireworks are also a top priority. According to the fireworks code in KCK, anything that propels through the air, including bottle rockets are illegal.
"Where they're going to land, you don't know. We have had issues with bottle rockets and those missile-types that may land on an area that could obviously catch fire," said Duke.
KCK residents are allowed to discharge fireworks from 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. between July 2nd and July 4th.
