Several communities in Mid-Michigan have banned outdoor fires because of dry conditions and fireworks could be next.
Depending on the weather, departments could ban personal as well as commercial fireworks.
"When that lands a lot of times that firework is still hot," said Chief John Clark with the Delta Township Fire Department. "It lands on a dry spot of grass versus a wet spot of grass and it can quickly grow into a larger grass fire or spread from the grass into a tree or bush and into a building."
Clark says there's less risk with commercial shows compared to people setting-off fireworks in their backyard, since the professionals have to meet state safety guidelines.
Lansing is weighing the same options, but says they're taking it day by day.
"We will not know until probably really close to the Fourth if this would affect displays," explained Lansing Emergency Manager Mike Tobin.
The Department of Natural Resources has the Lansing area at "very high" for fire risk, so firefighters say at this point its going to take more than a passing shower for conditions to turn around.
"You need a long soaking rain," Clark added. "That's the kind of rain that soaks into the ground, the ground becomes porous and the ground gets wet and it stays wet."
Right now businesses in charge of putting on the shows say they're also taking it day by day.
"Safety is number one, if you don't have safety you don't have anything," said Roger Bonney with Night Magic Displays. "There's not a lot of change you can make because fireworks start with fire, and they drop debris, sometimes the debris is hot and so you can start small fires. But if you're alert to that, you can control them."
Bonney says his crews are going over safety plans to make sure they're ready for this years shows. That includes wetting fields ahead of time and having an employee who's just assigned to putting out small fires.
"We have a meeting before the shows and the first thing we talk about is safety," Bonney added. "We remind ourselves about the things that you have to do to remain safe."
But since those steps rarely happen for backyard shows fire departments like Delta Township are considering a ban on just personal fireworks, or if conditions are bad enough both personal and commercial.
The State Fire Marshall is also reviewing conditions and is considering bans on a statewide level.
