Randolph: Ban on poppers fizzles

The Lafourche Parish Council voted Tuesday night on whether or not they would impose a ban on the sale and use of fireworks, as suggested by Parish President Charlotte Randolph in response to a record rain drought from April 1 to June 5.

The result of Tuesday’s council vote was unknown as of press time, but the verdict will be posted Wednesday morning on tri-parishtimes.com.

“I take the stance that it’s better safe than sorry,” Dist. 7 Councilman Phillip Gouaux said in anticipation of voting in favor of the ban. “We can always reverse it if we start getting rain again. I say we pass it contingent on the state burn ban and the parish burn ban.”

Tesi Glynn operates Tesi’s Firework Stand on La. Highway 307 in Thibodaux. She’s operated in drought-like conditions before, when the parish came close to issuing a ban on fireworks years ago.

Because of this, Glynn said she has been in contact with parish officials about the possibility of a ban this year. She said she was warned that it could be coming and has yet to stock up on fireworks for Fourth of July sales.

“To me, what they did is a good decision because of the fact, I know, yeah, I won’t be able to sell them, but the safety of the people is more important than making money,” Glynn said.

“Right now, people just light little fires and it becomes big,” she continued. “My son is in the fire department, and he always gets called out for all these ignorant, stupid calls that’s costing him money for people that are doing things that common sense should tell them: Don’t do it. The ground is dry.”

Not all stand owners mimicked Glynn’s caution. David Folse, who owns Folse’s Fireworks on Bridge Road in Des Allemands, said he already stocked up for the Independence Day season and could miss out on up to $20,000 in sales.

“I’m committed once I make my order, which I made in full about a month ago,” Folse said. “You have to buy things early. If you wait too late, they usually run out of things that you can’t get anymore.”

The fireworks he already purchased would be stored in a warehouse until the New Year season, Folse said. He added that he understands the potential fire hazard, but he’d like the state fire marshal to make a decision pertaining to a fireworks ban.

Inconsistent regulation among neighboring parishes, he said, could lead to bootlegging. “In today’s world, people travel so much that it doesn’t make a difference,” he said. “If they want [fireworks], they’re going to go get them.”

Randolph originally announced a ban on the sale and use of fireworks last Monday.

Two days later, Randolph admitted through a press release that the ban she imposed had no force of law, as it was not “germane” to the state of emergency the parish president declared in anticipation of potential floodwaters on May 10.

The parish president does have the power to hand down parish-wide edicts under a state of emergency, but the authority is limited to issues that pertain to the declaration.

If the council approves an ordinance to ban the sale and use of fireworks in the parish, it would go into effect on June 24, one day before stands are permitted to begin selling fireworks.

Randolph said last week the ban would last through Independence Day unless the parish sees “an awful lot of rain.” Firework stands are typically permitted to sell through July 5.

The Fourth of July celebration season is one of two for the owners of firework stands. Illuminations are also permitted for sale and use from Dec. 15 through Jan. 1.