A new Oklahoma law legalizing bottle rockets and allowing year-round fireworks sales in some parts of the state is drawing praise from fireworks retailers while prompting city officials to remind residents that local fireworks bans remain unchanged in some communities.

The Rockets’ Red Glare Act recently took effect and primarily applies to unincorporated areas of Oklahoma where county regulations govern fireworks sales and use. Cities such as Oklahoma City, Yukon, and Midwest City continue to enforce their own ordinances.

Oklahoma City Ban Remains in Place

Despite the new state law, fireworks remain illegal within Oklahoma City limits.

“The important thing for everybody within the city of Oklahoma City needs to know is fireworks are still illegal to buy, sell, purchase or light off within the city limits of Oklahoma City,” said Scott Douglas, a battalion chief and public information officer with the Oklahoma City Fire Department.

Douglas said Oklahoma City’s fireworks ordinance has been in place since 1912 and is not affected by the Rockets’ Red Glare Act.

“This law does not affect us. It does not affect the city of Oklahoma City. It does not affect our ordinance,” he said.

Bottle Rockets Return

One of the most significant changes under the new law is the return of bottle rockets, which had been prohibited in Oklahoma since 1981.

Robert Johnson of Good Guys Fireworks said the change will give Oklahomans an opportunity to purchase the products locally rather than traveling across state lines.

“We’re very excited to add some stick rockets back to the inventory,” Johnson said. “They’ve been outlawed since 1981.”

Johnson said customers have responded enthusiastically to the law’s passage.

“We want them to shop local in Oklahoma,” he said.

Johnson’s company operates 18 fireworks locations across central Oklahoma.

Limited Impact in Mustang

In Mustang, officials say the law will result in only minor changes.

“We’ve always had fireworks discharge in Mustang,” said Fire Marshal Eric Halter. “The only thing that changed for our municipality with the state law is the bottle rockets.”

According to Halter, residents may discharge fireworks from June 27 through July 4. Fireworks are allowed from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. June 27 through July 3 and from 9 a.m. to midnight on July 4.

The city also recommends that people who live outside Mustang use Wild Horse Park for fireworks activities.

Safety Concerns Remain

Officials in both Oklahoma City and Mustang stressed the importance of fireworks safety ahead of Independence Day celebrations.

Halter encouraged residents to follow manufacturers’ instructions, keep children from lighting fireworks, avoid holding fireworks in their hands and properly extinguish fireworks before throwing them away.

“A lot of the fires that we see are people throw discharged fireworks away in their trash can, and then they pull the trash cans up next to their house,” Halter said.

He warned that fireworks can continue smoldering for hours before igniting trash containers or nearby structures.

Douglas said the Oklahoma City Fire Department continues to discourage the use of consumer-grade fireworks because of the risks they pose.

“Our stance on fireworks is there’s no safe way to handle consumer-grade fireworks,” he said.

Douglas noted that sparklers can burn at temperatures of approximately 1,200 degrees and that fireworks frequently cause fires in homes, fields and other properties.

Retailers Expect Strong Holiday Sales

As the Fourth of July approaches, Johnson said fireworks retailers are anticipating a strong season, fueled in part by the return of bottle rockets and increased interest surrounding the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary celebration.

“We are expecting them to explode,” Johnson said of sales. “Twenty percent up is what we have planned for.”

Officials are encouraging residents to familiarize themselves with local regulations before purchasing or using fireworks, noting that rules vary widely depending on where they live.

The road to Omaha runs through Lawrence this weekend.

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Oklahoma and Kansas will meet in the NCAA Super Regionals with a trip to the College World Series on the line. The best-of-three series features two of the hottest teams in college baseball after both pulled off major upsets during regional play.

The Sooners advanced by eliminating No. 2 national seed Georgia Tech in Atlanta, while Kansas swept through its home regional, including two wins over Arkansas.

Kansas radio analyst Kevin Wheeler joined Toby Rowland on the Oklahoma’s Own Sports Podcast this week and said the atmosphere at Hoglund Ballpark should be unlike anything fans have seen this season.

Kansas expects a packed and loud Hoglund Ballpark

“Every single pitch, the crowd lived and died with that moment,” Wheeler said. “It was really special to see that.”

Wheeler said the Jayhawks benefited from one of the best home-field environments in program history during regional play and expects an even larger crowd for the Super Regional.

Kansas recently expanded fan areas around the stadium and has continued to set attendance records during its historic season.

Historic season fuels Jayhawks’ confidence

The Jayhawks enter the weekend in the middle of one of the best seasons the program has ever seen.

Kansas won the Big 12 regular-season championship for the first time in more than 70 years, captured its first conference tournament title in two decades and hosted its first NCAA Regional.

Wheeler credited head coach Dan Fitzgerald for building a culture centered on team-first players.

“He doesn’t want the best player in the country. He wants the best teammate in the country,” Wheeler said.

Dominic Voegele and Kansas lineup present major challenge

Kansas is expected to start ace Dominic Voegele in Game 1.

Wheeler described Voegele as one of the best pitchers to ever wear a Jayhawk uniform, highlighting his upper-90s fastball, elite breaking ball and dominant strikeout numbers.

Offensively, the Jayhawks are led by shortstop Tyson LeBlanc, who has already broken the program’s single-season home run record.

Wheeler said Kansas’ lineup is dangerous from top to bottom, featuring a mix of power, athleticism and lineup balance that has helped fuel one of the nation’s most productive offenses.

Why Kansas respects Oklahoma’s postseason run

While Kansas has enjoyed a dream season, Wheeler said the Jayhawks understand the challenge awaiting them this weekend.

Oklahoma enters the series after knocking off Georgia Tech twice in Atlanta and overcoming multiple deficits during regional play.

“If I was Oklahoma, I’d be on cloud nine,” Wheeler said. “I think that’s the kind of team that doesn’t even think they can get beat right now.”

Both programs enter the weekend believing they have what it takes to reach Omaha.

Game 1 between Oklahoma and Kansas is scheduled for 5 p.m. Saturday in Lawrence. Game 2 will be played Sunday at 5 p.m., with a winner-take-all Game 3 set for Monday if necessary.

One team will leave Lawrence headed to the College World Series.