The fireworks business is booming -- literally.
Scott Weigle is the manager of Phantom Fireworks of Erie, Pennsylvania.
It's about an hour drive from Buffalo.
The fireworks business is booming -- literally.
Scott Weigle is the manager of Phantom Fireworks of Erie, Pennsylvania.
It's about an hour drive from Buffalo.
WE'VE BEEN TALKINGABOUT THE SOUND OFEXPLODINGFIREWORKS INNEIGHBORHOODACROSS WESTERNNEW YORK FORWEEKS.TONIGHT 7EYEWITNESS NEWSREPORTER OLIVIAPROIA TAKES USACROSS THE STATELINE TO SHOW USWHERE SOME OFTHESE HOT TICKETITEMS ARE COMINGFROM..THE FIREWORKSBUSINESS IS BOOMING-- LITERALLY.SCOTT: I'VE BEEN HERE18 YEARS AND I'VENEVER SEEN A YEARTHIS BUSY EVER.PROBABLY OURBUSIEST YEAR EVER.SCOTT WEIGLE IS THEMANAGER OFPHANTOM FIREWORKSOF ERIE,PENNSYLVANIA... IT'SABOUT AN HOURDRIVE FROM BUFFALO.SCOTT: SALES HAVEBEEN THROUGH THEROOF.
I THINK PEOPLEARE STARVING FORSOME KIND OFENTERTAINMENT.
WEDIDN'T EXPECT THIS.
ITCAUGHT US FLATFOOTED FOR SURE.DANIAL: WE HAVE 80STORES LIKE THISAROUND THECOUNTRY.
AND THISHAS BEEN AND WILLCONTINUE TO BE A TOP10 STORE, MAYBE ATOP FIVE STORE THISYEAR.STAND UP: THEPARKING LOT IS FILLEDWITH PLATES FROMACROSS THE COUNTRY.PHANTOM FIREWORKSSAYS THEY CAN SELLFIREWORKS TOANYONE FROM ANYSTATE AS LONG ASTHEY AGREE TO USETHOSE FIREWORKSLEGALLY.SCOTT: WHENEVER WEHAVE OUT OF STATERESIDENTS THEY'REEXPECTED TO FOLLOWTHE LAWS WITHINTHEIR STATE.
WE CAN'TCONTROL WHAT THEYBUY BUT WE EXPECTTHEM TO FOLLOW THELAWS OF THE STATETHEY'RE GOING TO.DANIAL: SO ANYCUSTOMER THATCOMES IN, THEY'REGOING TO SIGN ANAFFIDAVIT.ESSENTIALLY JUST AUSERS BEST PRACTICEAGREEMENT SAYINGWE ARE GOING TO USETHESE FIREWORKSWITHIN LOCAL ANDSTATE AND FEDERALLAWSTHE USE OFFIREWORKS ACROSSTHE COUNTRY IS ONTHE RISE.DANIAL: SINCE 1994,THE USE OFFIREWORKS HAS MORETHAN DOUBLED TOOVER 220 MILLIONPOUNDS PER YEAR ANDTHOSE NUMBERS COMEFROM THE U.S.NATIONAL TRADECOMMISSION.AND WHILE SALES AREUP, THE AMOUNT OFFIREWORKS RELATEDINJURIES ARE DOWN.DANIEL: SINCE 1994 TO2019 THE INJURIES PER100,000 HASDECREASED BY 67PERCENT IN THEUNITED STATES.TO FIND OUT WHAT ISLEGAL IN NEW YORK,VISIT OUR WEBSITE,WKBW.COM .AAWNEAR ERIE PA, O