Rural Boone County fire districts report few fireworks-related problems

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Spokesmen for two Boone County rural fire districts said the Fourth of July weekend was relatively quiet, with few calls for injuries or other fireworks-related issues.

Colin Wright, Southern Boone Fire Protection District battalion chief, said his firefighters had a slow weekend. They were sent to a call about 10 p.m. Sunday of a man who injured his right hand using fireworks. He was taken to University Hospital and the fire district did not know his condition Monday.

Wright said people lighting floating lanterns was a concern for the fire district because those devices have caused fires in the past.

Gale Blomenkamp with the Boone County Fire Protection District said his department was not sent to any fireworks injury or disturbance calls. However, firefighters were sent Monday morning to a fire in a trash bin at a Boone County church.

The Columbia Police Department received more than 115 fireworks disturbance calls over the holiday weekend. It was not clear Monday morning how many of those calls led to citations or arrests.

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