Inside the 4th of July fireworks sales tent in front of Spanky and Sons Auction and Dollar General on U.S. Highway 63 (South County Road) in Toledo a vast array of products are seen on display Tuesday afternoon. Sales of fireworks became legal in Iowa this year following action by the Legislature after an 80 year ban. The tent above was the only licensed location in Tama County while more than 500 licenses have been issued state-wide. News-Herald photos/John Speer

Only one licensed fireworks retail dealer in all of Tama County was listed in the last data base of the Iowa State Fire Marshal’s Office when checked by The Chronicle.

The license is issued to Phantom Fireworks Eastern Region LLC – Toledo, 1008 S. County Road, Toledo- temporary structure. The licensee named is Keith West.

Phantom Fireworks claims to be “the leading retailer of consumer fireworks in the U.S.” on it’s internet website.

A large tent was erected in the parking lot at the address last week. Sales of fireworks in temporary structures is allowed under the new law.

The address is the location of Spanky’s Auction and Dollar General. The property is listed as owned by DJK Ridout Properties I LLC in the Tama County Assessor’s property records.

There is lots of variety in available fireworks now legal in Iowa. Some of the pre-packaged assortments include thee “Super-charged Phantom Elite Assortment” and the “Mega-Assortment Grounds for Divorce” on display at the Toledo location. Sales are legal from June 13- July 8 at temporary sites and in December at permanent sites.

West and Phantom Fireworks are also listed as having licensed sales locations in at least eight other Iowa locations including Altoona, Bettendorf, Cedar Falls, Davenport (2), Dubuque, Grimes, Lisbon and Marion.

Sales are legal between June 13 and July 8 and also Dec. 10 to Jan. 3. Temporary stands are legal between June 13 and July 8.

In addition to Phantom Fireworks, a number of other companies with names as colorful as the products they sell have received licenses to operate within the state. Among those listed on the State Fire Marshal’s website are: Kaboom’s 1/2 Pride Fireworks, Muscatine, Willy’s Fireworks in Marshalltown, Flashing Thunder Fireworks, TNT Fireworks, King Kong Fireworks and It’s Lit Fireworks.

The vendors are not limited to private companies- Grace Baptist Church in Marion and the Shenandoah Chamber and Industry Association are among others listed with sales licenses.

According to the Fire Marshal’s Office more than 500 licenses have been issued state-wide, so far.

A fire extinguisher is tucked in among the fireworks on display at the Phantom tent in Toledo. the extinguisher and posted escape plans are some of the precautions required to obtain a sales license for the State Fire Marshal’s Office. News-Herald/John Speer

The sale and use of fireworks was legalized in the last session of the Iowa Legislature. The Fire Marshal’s Office reports fireworks had been outlawed in Iowa for 80 years. It also reports 43 states and the District of Columbia allow fireworks.