UPDATE Friday, June 29: The city of Kanopolis also banned fireworks Friday morning.

Wilson residents will be allowed to shoot limited fireworks within a restricted area within the city between 8-11 p.m. Wednesday, July 4.  No sparklers will be allowed and fireworks cannot shoot over five feet in the air. The shooting area will be east of Lions Park on Ave D between 24th and 25th streets in Wilson.

The Star-Spangled Spectacular, scheduled for June 30 in Ellsworth, is still planned to be held.

Due to the dry conditions and high probability of fire, the City of Ellsworth declared an emergency fire ban Thursday afternoon according to Bob Kepka, Ellsworth Fire Chief.

Fireworks are not to be lit in Ellsworth city limits. The county-wide fire ban for unincorporated areas of the county is in effect and also bans fireworks.

Originally, fireworks were scheduled to be allowed in Ellsworth city limits from 6 p.m. July 3 until midnight July 4. However, the dangerously dry conditions forced the city to implement the emergency fire ban. “We are looking at an alternate date, such as Cowtown Days, if we get some rain,” said city administrator Tim Vandall. “But it is just too dangerous to allow fireworks under the present conditions.”

The city of Holyrood has also banned fireworks until further notice. Wilson will have a special meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 28, at city hall to discuss fireworks due to the tinder-dry conditions.