VIDALIA, La. – If shooting fireworks is your New Year’s tradition, you can fire away in most parts of Concordia Parish – but be safe, and if you’re in Ferriday, wrap it up by 1 a.m. New Year’s Day.

In Ferriday, fireworks can be used from Dec. 10 through Jan. 2 from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. – except on New Year’s Eve, when the hours are extended to 1 a.m. New Year’s morning, said Assistant Police Chief Steve Cockerham.

Fireworks can also be sold within the city limits during those times, although Cockerham noted that no one is actually selling fireworks in the town itself, &uot;probably because of the occupational license you’d have to get first.&uot;

In Vidalia, ordinances technically prohibit the use of fireworks within the city limits, but Police Chief Billy Hammers said that enforcement of that ordinance won’t be his officers’ first priority.

&uot;I’m more concerned about them shooting guns in the air&uot; to mark the new year, Hammers said.

In other areas of Concordia Parish, parish ordinances limit the period of sale of fireworks from Dec. 15 through Jan. 1.

They also prohibit throwing the device at motor vehicles, within 1,000 feet of churches, hospitals and schools or within 75 feet of a place that sells fireworks.

Other that, parish ordinances do not set any restriction on the use of fireworks, said Fire Chief Nolen Cothren of Concordia Fire District No. 2.

&uot;We haven’t had any problems with fireworks, since we’ve gotten rain lately,&uot; Cothren said. &uot;The main thing is to have adult supervise children during the use of fireworks, and to use common sense.&uot;

Still, despite recent rains, State Fire Marshal V.J. Bella on Friday called for a voluntary halt of sales of rocket-type fireworks in southern Louisiana, according to the Associated Press.