SHAWANO, WI – As residents gather to celebrate Independence Day, Shawano officials are reminding the public to enjoy the holiday responsibly, whether watching fireworks from land or on the water.
Shawano Police Chief Mike Musolff says the department expects to receive numerous fireworks complaints throughout the holiday weekend. While officers will respond as quickly as possible, he says the volume of calls can make enforcement challenging.
“It is difficult a lot of times to figure out who’s shooting off fireworks,” Musolff said. “It really exhausts our officers when they have other calls that they need to go to.”
Musolff is asking residents to be patient as officers work through calls while continuing to respond to emergencies across the city.
The chief also reminded residents that the City of Shawano has a fireworks ordinance.
“The City of Shawano does have an ordinance, and anything that goes in the air is basically illegal,” Musolff said.
Beyond enforcement, Musolff is encouraging families to think safety first when handling fireworks.
“Just because it has a wick on it and it’s supposed to go in the sky doesn’t mean it’s going to,” he said. “It could blow up, could have injuries. You have to think about our emergency room staff also.”
He says hospitals routinely see an increase in fireworks-related injuries around the Fourth of July, making it important to follow safety guidelines and use fireworks responsibly.
Musolff is also reminding pet owners to take extra precautions during tonight’s celebrations.
“A lot of animals can’t handle those loud noises,” he said. “So keep your windows shut, turn your air on, turn the TV on, make it a little bit louder in your house.”
Meanwhile, spectators planning to watch tonight’s Shawano Fireworks from Shawano Lake are being encouraged to put boating safety first.
Paul Kersten with Shawano Fireworks says boaters should make sure their navigation lights are on and use any additional lighting available to improve visibility.
“Boaters should definitely have their lights on,” Kersten said. “And if you have additional lighting on your boats, it’s even helpful.”
Organizers are expecting large crowds for tonight’s fireworks display and encourage everyone to celebrate safely so the holiday remains enjoyable for families throughout the community.
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