NASHVILLE, Tenn. -
The dry hot weather could threaten those who sell fireworks to supplement their income.
During the school year, Greg Lasater works as a school resource officer in Mt. Juliet.
During fireworks season, he spends nearly 24 hours a day in his 30 by 50 square foot tent, equipped with a cot, fan, television and plenty of water.
"To be out here in this weather, in these conditions and in tents, it really depends on people coming in buying [fireworks], but it's a very good supplement income," Lasater explained.
He told Nashville's News 2 he estimates that half of the people working in local fireworks tents are school employees.
Lasater said he does not expect the heat and dry weather to impact people's decision to buy fireworks, but Mother Nature's effects are yet to be seen.
According to Lasater, fireworks vendors see the vast majority of their sales on July 3 and on Independence Day.
Mt. Juliet resident Robin Speight was buying fireworks despite the 100-degree heat.
"We buy them every year," she said.
Nelson Ray purchased fireworks but now has reservations about lighting them.
"If we get a good rain, we might decide to light them, [otherwise] we'll just go watch them," he said.
The tents are also big money makers for school boosters.
In Rutherford County, firework stands opened their tents Thursday.
The tent off of Old Fort Parkway in the Walmart parking lot is raising money for the Riverdale High School baseball team.
"We do a lot of fundraisers throughout the year to raise a lot of money and this is a big one," Parker DeGraw told Nashville's News 2.
Andy DeGraw, president of the booster club, says the Warriors get 100% of the proceeds.
"There is a lot that goes into manicuring those fields, then you have uniforms, bats, balls," he explained.
The team has set a $10,000 goal and DeGraw says they are ready for the challenge.
The boosters have a second tent set up at the Sam's Club in Murfreesboro.
Clarksville was first to place a ban on fireworks within the city limits. The cities of Dickson and Burns followed suit on Thursday.
Fireworks are still permitted in Montgomery and Dickson counties outside the city limits.
Emergency personnel urge Mid-State residents to use extreme caution and good sense when lighting fireworks this Fourth of July.
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