The Fourth of July is still a couple of weeks away and fireworks don't officials go on sale until June 28, but there are some people in Omaha neighborhoods who are getting an early start and residents are already tired of the noise.
“We’re hearing at least every night, every other night,” Jim Arbuckle tells 6 News. Arbuckle says the noise sounds like a quarter stick of dynamite going off on his block.
“It’s just ludicrous. A car, a kid could be just riding his bicycle and they just throw them out in the street, blow them up and go back in the house and laugh at everybody,” Arbuckle says. “It scares the bejesus out of you.”
Arbuckle’s neighbors are also concerned about the explosions caused by the early fireworks. “Young kids lighting them off and I’m more worried about somebody getting hurt or hurting somebody else,” Dan Thompson tells 6 News.
Omaha Police say they will enforce the firework ordinance. Residents can legally set off fireworks July 2 through the 4 from noon to 11 p.m.
“First offense is a $300 fine, second offense is $400, third is $500 and they could go up from there,” says Omaha Police Officer Joe Nickerson.
Firework vendor tents in Council Bluffs are already up and running as they started sales there June 13.