Fireworks Vendors Struggle Under a Ban and in the Heat

The familiar red and white tents have popped up in recent weeks throughout Muskego, and vendors there say it's typical to be slow at first.

"We've only seen maybe five or six customers per day," said Evan Wachowiak, who is minding the store at the Black Cat fireworks tent in front of Pick n Save. That can be a grind considering most tents are open for business 12 to 14 hours every day, and temperatures have been at or above 90 every day.

A similar response was heard at its other location in front of Piggly Wiggly, where vendors said the business doesn't generally pick up until a couple of days before the fourth.

"The fourth of July this year falls during the midweek, and I think that has also meant people haven't come in like they normally do on the weekend," said Kyle Kurth, who is back again for a seconds year at the American Fireworks tent at the corner of Moorland and Janesville Roads.

However, the elephant in the room could also be the passed by the city just two days ago, no?

"There have been quite a few people we've told about it who weren't aware of it, and we can't assume everyone who comes here is from Muskego, but they still want to shoot them off anyway," Kurth said. Shoppers in his tent were from Muskego and did not know about the ban, but said they weren't planning on purchasing 'anything big,' either.

A fireworks safety sheet is also posted in the tent, stressing the need to provide water to prevent fires, but it's all a moot point if the city has said it's just too dry to set them off. No signage was up in any tents advising shoppers of the citywide ban, although all vendors said they had been contacted by the city to advise them of the ban.

It is legal to continue selling for all of these vendors, but despite the irony of selling a product people aren't supposed to use, Kurth still felt people take advantage of the product being on hand. He also pointed out it's a product that can be saved for a later time and another place.

"I feel we will see it pick up here in the next day or so, and we always get the group of people who spend about a thousand dollars for their family get togethers," he said. "Fireworks are also able to be stored, and they can keep for well beyond a year."

An item on hand at every tent was 'Snaps,' which are not considered fireworks and can be used under the fireworks ban, but still produce a small popping sound when they are thrown to the ground. For many pyromaniacs, though it's a token comfort that won't satisfy the thrill of a great groundwork.

"Some people will still come in to buy no matter what," Wachowiak said.