With Independence Day approaching, Knoxville Police Chief Aaron Fuller reminds residents that the discharge of fireworks in town is not allowed. While they have been legal in Iowa since 2016, cities can choose to disallow their use. Fuller says this decision is due to a variety of reasons.

“We live in a community where everybody is close together. We don’t want to set our neighbors’ houses on fire or damage their property. There’s a lot of older folks in Knoxville who don’t like them, it startles them, it wakes them up while they’re trying to sleep. We have a few people here in town who suffer from PTSD, they might be veterans. It bugs pets, people on the autism spectrum. That’s why we ask people to not shoot them off in town.”

Fuller says discharging fireworks in Knoxville is a misdemeanor, punishable by fine. He encourages residents to enjoy Knoxville’s fireworks display on Sunday, July 4th at dusk, which will be launched from the airport.