Firework vendors hope Labor Day will provide a boost in sales

ELKHART, Ind. -- When your yearly paycheck depends on one single holiday, you always have to be ready for things to blow up in your face.

Local fireworks shops have their fingers crossed.

The drought took nearly $30,000 out of Carol Gatlin's summer income.

She owns the fireworks store in Elkhart with her sister.

They have been keeping their doors open nearly two months longer than usual, hoping to make up for what they lost this Labor Day.

"That's what happens. You plan and then your plans go south. And then you just pull yourself up by your bootstraps and say we're going to make this work somehow," said Gatlin.

Gatlin said next summer will be all about getting back what they lost, so it will be two years before they recover.