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Firefighters fear
‘last blast’ July 4
fireworks purchases

Isle residents are cautioned
against stocking up before
restrictions change

By Suzanne Tswei
and Harold Morse
Star-Bulletin

Honolulu Fire Capt. Richard Soo is hoping island residents will keep their cool and not rush out for a "last blast" this July 4th before tougher fireworks laws go into effect.

All 42 fire stations on Oahu will be fully staffed during next week's holiday in case of fireworks-related fires, Soo said.

"Usually we have about 300 firefighters on duty on any given day, but 20 percent actually are off on sick leave or vacation. But we will make sure those positions are filled on the Fourth," Soo said.

Yesterday was the first day of legal fireworks sales for the Fourth of July. It's also the last chance for people to buy unrestricted amounts of fireworks. A new law, effective July 6, will require fireworks permits and limit sales to 5,000 firecrackers per permit. Among other restrictions, the law also will impose $2,000 fines on violators.

By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin
Vicky Helms, left, and Jonathan Helms, age 13, both from
Los Altos, Calif., shop for fireworks at the Kaheka Daiei
yesterday afternoon. Yesterday was the first day of legal
fireworks sales for the Fourth of July.

"I am afraid people will go out and buy as much as they can afford for a last blast while the old law is still in effect," Soo said.

Soo said the possibility of higher fireworks sales plus the summer drought conditions are prompting extra concern for fire danger during the Fourth of July holiday.

A fireworks wholesaler this week said retailers' demand has been unusually high and that he has sold out of his entire supply, Soo said. "What that means to me is that there are a lot more products on the shelves. That makes us more conscious that this might be a heavier Fourth of July than usual," he said.

Soo also cautioned against stocking up fireworks for New Year's Eve. Fireworks can become unstable over time and therefore more dangerous, he said.

A spot check last night revealed no huge volume of fireworks sales.

Kmart at 500 N. Nimitz Highway reported "pretty good, not bad" sales.

Kmart in Waipahu reported a modest run. "The people that are buying seem to be buying more firecrackers, more per customer," said Tony Butera, Kmart Waipahu manager. "We had a rush this morning but nothing like it has been years past."

A manager who did not want to be named at Longs in Kamehameha Shopping Center characterized sales as "kind of slow for the Fourth of July," not as brisk as other first sales days.

"There's not that much customers," said Linda Nero, head cashier, Daiei Kaheka, 801 Kaheka St. "Not much sales yet."

Skip Mauliola, promotions manager of Daiei Kailua, said: "In the morning it was relatively slow, and in the afternoon and tonight it picked up. ... I was expecting a busier morning, but it turned out to be a busier evening."