Wichita fire department reports 72 fireworks calls, outlines enforcement and next steps

Battalion Chief (Wichita Fire Department) told the Wichita City Council that the fire department responded to 72 fireworks‑related calls during the nine‑day fireworks window and that five of those calls were working structural fires. "Wichita Fire responded to a total of 72 calls related to fireworks," the chief said, and attributed the working fires mainly to improper disposal and discharging of aerials.

The chief reported 35 injuries were recorded this year and said the department uses multi‑year trends to guide enforcement; he cautioned that 2022 hospital reporting was incomplete and affected historical comparisons. To enforce rules, the department deployed 20 patrol teams—largely paired firefighter/police units—based on a complaint‑call heat map drawn from Sedgwick County's non‑emergent line.

Inspectors conducted 73 tent inspections and collected $109,500 in tent permit fees, which funded the enforcement teams; surplus funds will support a 2027 fireworks‑safety outreach campaign. The chief said inspectors removed a small number of professional‑use fireworks from retail tents during spot checks and that only three citations were issued during the enforcement period, down from prior years.

Council members asked how the department notifies vendors and nonprofits about permit requirements and whether detection technology could help locate illegal aerial discharges. The chief said licensing information is available online through city licensing and that gunshot‑detection systems may not reliably distinguish aerial fireworks from ground devices or provide accurate aerial location data. A citizen fireworks committee meeting is scheduled next Monday to gather community feedback ahead of 2027 planning.