Parts of the state are still seeing severe drought.
As we head into the holiday weekend, the question of banning fireworks is now on the table for some communities.
For many, the 4th of July means celebrating with a bang! But communities are making changes because of the drought, so take a look at what you need to know before lighting the spark.
Kearney Fire Inspector Terry Eirich knows his way around fireworks, spotting the dangers a simple spark can bring.
“You never know, sometimes these things will set in smolder for a while if you don’t put or soak them in water for a while," said Eirich.
Eirich said that’s the best way to ensure a firework is out for good. He also says to make sure an adult is there to supervise a child with a firework, because fireworks (particularly the sparklers kind) can ignite quicker and cause burn injuries to hands.
With the holiday just a week out, firework stands are up in Kearney.
But a few miles west, places like Keith County are banning fireworks.
“In light of the fires that we had southwest and south central Nebraska earlier this year, we just didn’t think it was going to be a good situation with all of the crop land and grassland that we have in our county that is not in very good shape right now," said Dale Schroeder, commissioner for District 1 in Keith County.
Over in Elwood there will also be no sparks flying, but the fire department asks people to use extreme caution.
The City of McCook reminding its residents to celebrate safely with a list of do's and don'ts.
In 2018, the National Fire Protection Association estimated more than 19,000 fires in the U.S. started by fireworks which is just one more reason to be safe this holiday.