IPFW's July 4 fireworks to go on

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The July 4 fireworks show at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne will go on as planned even though Allen County officials urged local communities Friday to postpone public displays.

The county Board of Commissioners moved Friday to extend the county's emergency burn ban, which includes consumer fireworks, indefinitely because of the ongoing drought conditions.

But IPFW said in statement Friday that the annual holiday fireworks show would go on "with the Allen County Commissioners' blessing." Fort Wayne Deputy Fire Chief Jim Murua said the fire department would provide an increased presence on the IPFW grounds.

The burn ban prohibits the lighting of fireworks except for public displays that have already been granted permits by state and local authorities. However, the commissioners "strongly encouraged" area towns and cities to postpone even public shows while the ban is in effect, according to a written statement.

Murua said the fire department is encouraging private groups such as country clubs to postpone their fireworks displays even if they have permits. The department also is working with the Fort Wayne TinCaps baseball team to establish added safety measures for post-game shows, he said.

The commissioners would keep the ban in place until further notice, the statement said. The statement did not indicate a date when the ban would expire.

Other activities that are prohibited under the ban include:

- Camp fires

- Bonfires

- Controlled burns without permits

- Burning yard and household trash

- Burning construction debris

- Burning organic debris

- Discarding smoldering or smoking materials on the ground