Greenwood fireworks store, firefighters gearing up for Fourth of July

For many Hoosiers, Independence Day means cookouts with friends and family, red-white-and-blue and fireworks.

And for one Greenwood store, it’s the owner’s favorite time of the year.

Mike Baytala runs Sideshow Fireworks, a year-round fireworks store, with his wife Mercedes. The store, located at 1032 U.S. 31 South, opened in 2018 as a passion project for Baytala.

“What kind of happened was my [firework] shows when I was just doing personal shows, my show started getting so big that my wife one time came out,” Baytala said. “… I had cases and cases of fireworks. And I said, ‘I know we have so much that we can open [a store].’ And then there was the eureka moment, we can open up a store. Anytime you could turn a passion, your hobby, into a business venture, I find that’s pretty successful.”

Baytala said business for Sideshow Fireworks comes in three selling seasons. Since having their permanent storefront in Greenwood, they sell fireworks for other holidays such as New Year’s Eve and Memorial Day. In addition, they sell a lot of fireworks for Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights.

“We ended up opening for Diwali,” Baytala said. “And our Diwali sales were very good. There’s our second selling season.”

Baytala said that his favorite part of the Fourth of July season is when people come back after buying fireworks from his store.

Bringing joy to peoples’ celebrations is great, he said. But sometimes, there’s a feeling of missing out when he is in the shop watching others light off fireworks.

“When I go out on the Fourth of July, and we’re still open, and I see fireworks going off everywhere. And I’m still here working,” Baytala said. “You get that itch. And I’m like, ‘I need to blow something up.’”

Satisfying that itch can be dangerous if done improperly, experts say. Last year, the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission, or CPSC, received reports of eight deaths and an estimated 9,700 injuries involving fireworks. Out of the eight deaths, five were associated with firework misuse, two with a device malfunction and one involved unknown circumstances.

A CSPC report also shows that between 2008 and 2023, injuries from fireworks have increased overall, despite recent data showing a steady decline since the peak in 2020 during the pandemic when public displays were canceled.

One of the best ways to stay safe is to watch a trained professional set off fireworks rather than trying it at home, said Josh Snyder, chief of the Franklin Fire Department.

“The sparklers are one of the most common burns that we get during the Fourth of July celebration,” Snyder said. “People really don’t think a sparkler is a threat and they let their little kids play with it, but that’s where we get the most burns at over the fourth.”

Snyder emphasized that all fireworks are dangerous to use and people should be cognizant of that. In 2023, the CPSC reported that of the 9,700 firework-related injuries, 66% of them occurred in the weeks before and after Independence Day across the country. The most reported injuries were to the hands and fingers — making up 35% of firework-related injuries. Additionally, 700 emergency department-treated injuries were associated with sparkler use.

For the many people who will set off fireworks at home or otherwise, they should still enjoy the holiday. But they need to do so responsibly, said Tyler Swardson, a Greenwood Fire Department spokesperson. What starts as a fun summer holiday could easily go awry if individuals do not handle fireworks, the heat and alcoholic beverages responsibly, he said.

The U.S. CPSC recommends people keep in mind the following safety tips for fireworks season.

• Do not allow children to play with or ignite fireworks, including sparklers.
• Make sure to only set off fireworks that are labeled for consumer use.
• Do not use fireworks when under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Keep a bucket of water or garden hose on hand in case of a fire or other incident.
• Light fireworks one at a time and move back quickly after lighting.
• Do not try to relight or handle malfunctioning fireworks. Douse them with water and dispose of them.
• Do not place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting.
• Do not point or throw fireworks at anyone.
• Douse fireworks with water before disposing of them to prevent a trash fire.
• Be mindful and respectful of neighbors and pets who may become overwhelmed by the noise caused by setting off fireworks.

Swardson also said to make sure that all pets are secured during fireworks going off to avoid stressing the animals. To ease fireworks anxiety for pets, the Johnson County Animal Shelter recommends pet owners create a cozy, quiet space for pets indoors and to use calming music or noise machines.

Not just pets, people should keep in mind people who are sensitive to explosion noise, such as veterans who have PTSD, ISP recommends.

In addition, Swardson urged the public to handle their alcohol during this Independence Day.

“If you’re intoxicated, you could run, you could trip and heaven forbid you trip towards the firework, knock it towards the rest of your friends. And it’s one of those cannons that shoots up, it’s gonna shoot it right at your friends, right at your car, your boat. Obviously wanna make sure you’re doing it on solid ground,” Swardson said.

LOCAL FIREWORKS HOURS

State law allows for fireworks to be set off from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. most days of the year. On certain holidays, including July 4, fireworks can be used from 10 a.m. to midnight. Local communities can adopt different ordinances, enforcing more stringent rules.

Here’s when local communities say fireworks are permitted to go off around this time of year:

Franklin, New Whiteland

Fireworks are permitted between the hours of 5 p.m. and two hours after sunset from June 29 to July 9. On July 4, you can set off fireworks from 10 a.m. to midnight.

Greenwood

Fireworks are permitted the earlier of the last Saturday in June, or June 29-July 3 and July 5-9 from 5 p.m. to two hours after sunset each year. On July 4, this changes to allow fireworks between the hours of 10 a.m. and midnight.

Whiteland

Fireworks are permitted between the hours of 10 a.m. to two hours after sunset on June 29 through July 9. On July 4, they are permitted from 10 a.m. to midnight. Any other day, they are allowed 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., but cannot be set off on the same property too frequently. Fireworks are limited to no more than three hours per day, and no more than three calendar days within seven days on the same property.

Edinburgh

Fireworks are permitted from June 29 to July 9, 5 p.m. to two hours after sunset. On July 4, they are allowed from 10 a.m. to midnight.

Other communities

If a community is not listed, it follows state statute.