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Local Fireworks Sales Hurting from State Ban

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This summer's active wildfire season is putting a damper on Fourth of July sales for a longtime local fireworks business.

Recent thunderstorms have been the cause of as many as 70 wildfires in Western Alaska. In an effort to reduce the risk of fire, the state has issued a suspension for the sale and use of all fireworks... and that has put one Dillingham business owner in a rough spot.

Audio transcript:

Billy Benedict owns the fireworks stand down at the boat harbor. She says since there is still so much light on the 4th of July, most people buy the fireworks that are the loudest.

“That’s why we have a good stock of rockets and artillery shells. And we do also get lodges that want to put on a show, and Icicle Seafoods always comes in.”

Benedict has been in business for 22 years. She had opened on June 15 this year, but only a few days later she got home to a message from the Fire Marshall saying she’d have to put a hold on sales for the time being.

“So we were open and we had sold a few, not a whole lot but a few. I got the message and I came back down to the stand and told them to close it down.”

The Alaska State Fire Marshall issued the firework ban for all of Western Alaska on Friday because of the increased fire risk.

Benedict says that if she can’t sell the inventory she has now for the 4th of July, she'll just have to place her hopes on selling it during New Year’s.

“But we’ve always counted on making our money on the 4th of July and then what little we made at New Year’s was fine. We wouldn’t have to make up for any losses.”

Benedict is somewhat optimistic the suspension will be lifted in time for the 4th as the weather forecast points to rain starting this weekend but if it will be enough to reserve the warm and dry summer so far will let to be seen.

Contact the author at matt@kdlg.org.