Firework store owners ready for business despite area burn bans

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - The drought and burn bans have firework stores in the area worried.  Burn bans in the area prohibit the use of fireworks.

"I'm worried about it", said Brandon Heller, owner of BJ's Boomtown.  "I have to clear $100,000 to break even."

Heller said he is still optimistic that people will buy fireworks this summer.

"We're really hoping everybody still comes out and buys fireworks, we're really hoping they lift this ban for fireworks" Heller said. "We know it's not legal to shoot off fireworks in Fort Wayne until June 29. We're kind of hoping the rain we did get and the rain we are supposedly supposed to get, hopefully they'll give us some leeway on fireworks a little bit."

Phantom Fireworks is open all year.  Its manager said sales there are normal so far this season.

"It's slow during the day on weekdays," Laurie Beaverson, the manager at Phantom Fireworks said.  "Things will pick up over the weekend as people get ready for their parties."

Beaverson and Heller are hoping officials will lift the ban closer to the Fourth of July.