The number of licensed vendors in Iowa has dropped since the state legalized fireworks. Travis Allen, the owner of Sundown Fireworks in Williamsburg, blames new statewide numbers that show fewer vendors are seeking licenses to sell fireworks in part on new restrictive ordinances some cities have imposed to cut down on their use.
One such place where numbers are down is Marion. There, the fire chief reports there were 18 vendors in the jurisdiction last year but that number has dropped to just four this year.
What is happening in Marion seems to be following a state trend. In 2018, there were 791 firework vendor licenses issued by the Iowa State Fire Marshal. So far this year, that number is down to 518, a 35% decrease year over year.