Published: June 28, 2008 09:09 pm         

Backyard fireworks

Do-it-yourself shows gaining popularity.

According to local fireworks providers, backyard fireworks shows are gaining popularity because of new Indiana laws and rising gas prices.

A recent law passed by the Indiana General Assembly allows residents to legally use class C fireworks, such as bottle rockets, Roman candles and fire crackers with consent of the property owner.

Indiana laws allow residents to shoot fireworks until two hours after sunset and midnight on the Fourth of July.

Greg Ulery, owner of Ulery Fireworks in Logansport, said backyard shows were becoming comparable to cities’ shows because out-of-state fireworks are now legal.

“It helped the industry out,” he said.

Paul Forman, owner of Independence Fireworks in Peru, said his sales had increased this year. Because of rising gas prices, he said, many people have decided to have their fireworks shows at home.

He said he had created at least 15 backyard fireworks shows for residents.

According to the American Pyrotechnics Association, the use of backyard fireworks has more than doubled since 2000.

Last year, Americans used 280 million pounds of fireworks, nearly 10 times the amount used in 1976.

Ulery said his best-selling products — Hoosier Nights, Dirty Dancing, Jump, Jive and Jam and artillery shells — will make a show comparable to a public show.

“A lot of people want a combination of both color and noise,” he said.

Logansport resident Joe Davis said he was looking for “the biggest and the loudest” fireworks to buy this year.

He is putting on a fireworks show at Lake Bruce. He said the show would be watched by 25 people, who all pitched to buy $600 worth of fireworks. The show will last two hours.

He said his shows kept getting bigger each year.

Forman said many residents were buying a package he used last year for a professional show in Delphi. He said his company’s best sellers this year were artillery shells, which are similar to the large air bursts seen at professional shows.

“They’re miniature to what the parks do,” Forman said.

Artillery shells can go 150 feet high. The size of the breaks vary from 50 feet to more than 200 feet wide. There are many types of artillery shells including single shot shells, double break shells, triple break shells, canister shells and ball style artillery shells.

He said firecrackers are always popular because of their loud noise.

Through the years, Forman said, fireworks have gotten more colorful and creative.

“They used to be just gold and silver,” he said. “Now they have all different effects and bright colors. They’ve come a long way from 10 years ago.”

Ulery said new products this year include the Elite 8, Picture Perfect and Enough Said. Enough Said is 500 grams, the largest firework that can be sold in Indiana.

He said depending on what people want, individuals can spend from $30 to $500 on a show. Some residents have spent more than $1,000 perfecting their backyard shows.

Ulery, who has been in the fireworks business for 28 years, said his business would be busy much of the week, with the busiest day being the Fourth of July. He said a lot of people would be shooting fireworks on July 5, which falls on a Saturday this year.

Melissa Soria may be reached at (574) 732-5143 or via e-mail at melissa.soria@pharostribune.com



Logansport Consumer Fireworks Ordinance

Consumer fireworks may not be used, ignited or discharged within the corporate limits of the city of Logansport except during the following times: Between the hours of 5 p.m. and two hours after sunset on June 29 and 30, July 1-9, and between the hours of 10 a.m. and midnight on July 4. The use, ignition or discharge of consumer fireworks other than during the above time periods shall constitute an infraction and shall be subject to a fine of $100.