Sales of firecracker permits sputter

More than 3,000 firecracker permits were issued Wednesday at satellite city halls but Oahu residents can still expect a quieter New Year’s Eve than in 2010.

Despite the last-minute rush, the total number of permits issued by Wednesday’s deadline was expected to fall way short of the 10,008 permits issued last year.

As of 3 p.m. Wednesday, satellite city halls reported they had issued 7,682 firecracker permits, said Hono­lulu Fire Department spokesman Capt. Terry Seelig.

A final tally is expected today.

Each $25 permit entitles an adult to buy up to 5,000 common firecrackers. There is no limit on how many permits a person can buy.

Seelig said a new city ordinance that took effect after last New Year’s may be a key reason for the drop in firecracker permits issued.

The law requires the city to stop issuing permits 10 days before New Year’s Eve, or Dec. 21. Previously, Oahu residents had until 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 31 to purchase firecracker permits and a vast majority of the permits were typically issued after Christmas.

Seelig said many people may not be thinking about New Year’s and fireworks until after Christmas, and because firecrackers can’t go on sale until Dec. 26, it may be a matter of out-of-sight, out-of-mind for many fireworks enthusiasts.

The new city ordinance also bans all novelty fireworks — including sparklers and fountains — and this will be the first New Year’s under that prohibition. Aerial fireworks were already banned.