7/1/09 Bend
 
By Doug Johnson
 
So far it's been a slow year for local firework dealers. Customers have scaled back their spending from last year.
 
"It's a luxury, finances have to come first, bills have to be paid," says Lacy Gillisbie, who was shopping for fireworks Wednesday in Bend.
"We're buying less fireworks this year," says Mauren Sweeney at a fireworks stand in Bend.
 
Fireworks are staying on the shelves. Vendors at a fireworks tent on Third Street in Bend say they've only sold ten percent of their inventory. Another stand on Highway 20 in Bend says sales are down thirty percent from this time last year, and another on third street says sales are down fifty percent.
 
"Last year at this time we probably averaged at 4-5 hundred dollars a day, I think yesterday we pulled in a hundred," says Scott Stair, who runs the stand at the Trinity Lutheran Church on Highway 20 in Bend, to raise funds for the youth group.
 
Vendors hope things will pick up in the next few days, as the holiday gets closer.
 
"It should be getting better starting today," says Jason Spinden, who runs a stand on Third Street in Bend, to raise money for his paintball team.
 
The Bend Fire Department hopes that doesn't mean people are spending more on illegal fireworks. Over one hundred were confiscated last year, according to BFD. Anything that explodes or flies can cost users over a thousand dollar fine. Even legal fireworks can be dangerous, last year on Oregon Forestry lands, 24 wildfires were caused by careless use of fireworks. In the City of Bend, you must be 18 to use them, even though state law is 16.
 
"That two year difference has really made an impact on the number of incidents that we've had," says Larry Medina, fire investigator with the Bend Fire Department.
 
The BFD demonstrated the proper technique for KOHD, recommending you choose a hard surface away from vegetation and buildings. It also warns never attempt to relight a "dud". After your done lighting a firework just leave it alone for 15 minutes to a half hour because it could still be hot, after that you should probably dunk it in water just to make sure."
 
As for the professional show on pilot butte Saturday, the Fire Department will spray foam which soaks into living materials, but is still environmentally friendly and help prevent a fire.