Jefferson City area fireworks vendors reported strong sales for the Independence Day holiday this year.
Paul Bax, who owns Bax Fireworks on Pleasant Hill Road, has been selling fireworks since 1999 and from his current location for the last nine years.
While he doesn't have the final figures, he said this was his best year ever.
"People were tired of being cooped up and staying home due to the COVID-19 pandemic," Bax said. "They wanted to get out and do something, and with many fireworks shows canceled they decided to shoot off fireworks at their homes. I also think the stimulus checks helped by giving people some more money to spend."
Bax said he knew there would be a supply problem this year, so he made sure to stock up early.
"Most stores have closed because they didn't stock up," Bax said. "We saw a 10-15 percent increase in prices from wholesalers to retailers, and that was mainly due to the supply issues."
Seasonal fireworks vendors could begin selling June 20 and can still sell through Saturday. Bax has a year-round license.
Seasonal seller Kurt Schlueter has operated Jeff City Fireworks for more than 30 years just off U.S. 54. Like Bax, he said this was a good year for the fireworks business.
"We weren't sure what would happen because of COVID and under-ordered, so we actually sold out by July 4," Schlueter said. "I couldn't get any more. I called wholesalers, but there were none to be had. I normally like to stay open to July 10 but won't this year."
Schlueter said Jeff City Fireworks posted signs asking people to maintain physical distance while shopping but did not require customers to wear masks in the fireworks tent.
"I think people needed a little family time to get out in their backyard and enjoy," Schlueter said. "There were so many adjustments this year because with COVID we didn't know what to expect. I'll give it a shot again next year."
Jefferson City Police Department officials and Cole County Sheriff John Wheeler said their departments responded to numerous fireworks violation calls from Thursday through Sunday.
On Friday, city firefighters and police officers responded jointly to 33 fireworks complaints, sometimes taking multiple complaints less than a minute apart, according to information posted to the Jefferson City Firefighters Local 671 Facebook page.
Authorities said warnings were issued, but no citations were given. The 911 call logs from days when officers or deputies responded to reports of fireworks violations show they didn't find anything by the time they arrived.
It is illegal to shoot off fireworks in the Jefferson City limits. In Cole County, aside from two times a year - July 4 and New Year's Eve - a county ordinance requires discharge of fireworks in unincorporated areas happen 9 a.m.-11 p.m. There is no 11 p.m. enforcement July 4 and Dec. 31, when fireworks may be discharged until 1 a.m.