By JILL MCNEAL
6 News Anchor/Reporter
KNOXVILLE (WATE) - The hot, dry conditions are affecting 4th of July plans across the area, forcing two cities to cancel their displays.
Officials in Corbin, Kentucky and Athens, Tennessee announced they canceled their fireworks displays due to extreme fire dangers.
People are urged to use caution with their own displays as well.
At Dixie Lee Fireworks in Loudon County, owner Dottie Sharp says the extreme heat isn't slowing sales at all.
"Business sales are up. People are coming in all throughout the week for the big celebration," Sharp said.
The shop offers safety tips to customers year round.
"Keep the water hose and buckets around. Moist towels do great. If you do see a fire, they're great for smothering anything," Sharp said.
Rural/Metro Fire Chief Jerry Harnish is worried about the upcoming holiday, and wishes no one would take the risk of setting off fireworks themselves.
"The extreme heat is causing extreme dryness which means everything is much more flammable," he said.
Fireworks are illegal in Knox County and he warns that just a little spark can cause a big fire.
"There are some basic truths that involve anything with fire explosives. One is having enough clear area where there are not flammables present. Certainly a degree of supervision is important," Harnish said.
He says a fire can flare up even after the party is over. "The concern is they can smolder in dry material for a long period of time before bursting into open flames and that gives people a false sense of security," he explained.
That's giving people more to think about this year as they plan their own festivities.
"We've downsized this year. We're changing location. We're doing them in an empty field that we own. We have more people on standby this year. We usually have at least one fire extinguisher, but we're going to have a couple and several other people standing by," said Nick Peterson, who always does a small show for family and friends.
There is a ban on open burning right now in Knox County because of the conditions. Harnish says they're working many more fires than usual for this time of year.
