State Fire Marshal Shuts Down Pit Stop Fireworks Room
HOBART, OHIO – The Pit Stop’s troubles deepened Saturday evening when a convoy of unmarked SUVs carrying officials from the Ohio State Fire Marshal’s office rolled into town, flashing warrants and closing off the store’s controversial fireworks room.
Witnesses say at least six officers entered the building shortly after 6 p.m., carrying clipboards and wearing heavy jackets despite the heat. Moments later, plywood sheets and bright orange EVIDENCE tape were affixed over the door leading to the storage area in a curtained-off side room of the store.
Owner Dale Bob Adkins, Jr. was served with a subpoena on-site but was not arrested. Officials declined to comment on the nature of the investigation, citing “ongoing proceedings.”
The fireworks room, which had long been a point of fascination and rumor in Hobart, was said to contain “discount sparklers, novelty explosives, and a suspicious number of Roman candles,” according to customers. One resident claimed the room had been stocked “like Fort Knox with bottle rockets” prior to the closure.
Outside the store, a small crowd gathered as the plywood went up. “It’s like watching history,” said resident Howard Petty. “First they close the fountain drinks, now they’re coming for the fireworks. What’s next, the jerky aisle?”
Village officials confirmed that the Pit Stop remains closed under the earlier Health Department order and that the latest action only “complicates matters.” A special session of council is expected later this week to address the growing situation.
Reached by phone late Saturday, Adkins insisted he would “have his day in court” and maintained that “fireworks are part of Hobart’s heritage.”
Timeline of Events
- July 20: Incident occurs during an overnight shift at the Pit Stop, drawing public attention and official concern.
- Aug. 3: Inspectors and volunteers conduct a large-scale cleanup at the store, with Health Department personnel on site.
- Aug. 10: Owner Dale Bob Jr. seeks outside guidance as scrutiny intensifies.
- Aug. 17: The Pit Stop is ordered closed by the Proctor County Health Department and the Village of Hobart, citing public health concerns.
- Sept. 13: The Ohio State Fire Marshal executes a warrant, sealing off the fireworks room with plywood and evidence tape. Dale Bob Adkins, Jr. is served with a subpoena but not arrested.
Read the seizure notice from the Ohio State Fire Marshal’s office below.
I told y’all. This town’s being strangled. One store at a time. Don’t think for one second they won’t come for your kitchens next.
Linda, nobody’s coming for your kitchen. This was about explosives. Nothing more.
Explosives, Harold? You ever light a sparkler? You ever seen a roman candle? THAT’S AMERICA.
I say we dig under the plywood. They can’t plywood the ground. Think about it.
They’re treating him like he’s Al Capone. This is a convenience store, not a cartel. And you think this is about FIREWORKS? OPEN YOUR EYES. Same people who ran Dale Sr. off the road in 94 are behind this. I guarantee you.
Oh hell, here we go. Dale Sr. wasn’t “run off the road” he was drunk on Peppermint Schnapps and trying to light a sparkler in the car. Everyone knows this.
I graded Dale Sr. too. He once turned in a paper that was just the word FIREWORKS written 100 times. A family pattern.
Marvins just jealous cause his cousin bought half his drywall from the pit stop.
The REAL scandal is all those raffle tickets sitting unsold. The Pit Stop was our distribution hub. Who’s gonna buy tickets now?
Nadine we’re discussing a state raid not your Little League raffle.
WE WOULDN”T NEED RAFFLES IF WE TURNED THE WATER TOWER INTO A TURTLE HABITAT
Benny what is wrong with you.
WAKE UP PEOPLE THE FIRE MARSHAL DOESN’T CARE ABOUT SAFETY THIS IS ABOUT SHUTTING DOWN HOBART’S LAST STRONGHOLD NEXT THEY’LL SEAL OFF THE GAZEBO
Hollis, no one wants your gazebo conspiracy tonight…
MY UNCLE BUILT THAT GAZEBO WITH HIS BARE HANDS AND THE GOVERNMENT HATES HIM FOR IT
Every year, I have begged the school board not to let Dale Jr. run the Homecoming bonfire. Every year they ignored me. Look where we are.
Alma, you gave me detention because I spelled my name with a K once. You’re drunk on authority.
And you’re drunk on Mountain Dew, Calvin, you always have been.
Everyone crying about DBJ but nobody mentioning the fact that he’s been storing bottle rockets in a DEEP FREEZER. That’s a war crime.
You sound like an informant Marvin, how would you even know unless you were in on it?
Because DBJ bragged about it at the VFW fish fry. He said “colder rockets fly straighter.”
EVERYONE LOOK UP. THEY TURNED OFF A STAR TONIGHT
What the hell are you even talking about
HE’S RIGHT THEY’RE DIMMING THE SKY ONE DOT AT A TIME.
You two should just live together. It’s like crazy lost a branch of the family tree.
FOR THE RECORD, Punky PUNCHED me in the face last night after the game because I slipped and called her Charlotte. I got the bruise to prove it.
Lorraine, you didn’t “slip”…you screamed it across the bleachers like a foghorn. Also, she clocked you because you never SHUT UP. You could’ve just said sorry…
I was there…she said “Charlotte” three times like it was some summoning spell..
SHE LOOKS LIKE A CHARLOTTE
Also everyone knows you don’t call her Charlotte. That’s on YOU.
You’ve been warned about this for years, Lorraine, you were practically begging for it.
If Punky gets subpeaned I’m TESTIFYING.
No one subpoenaed Punky, Lorraine.
You’re lucky all you got was a punch.
Can we acknowledge the real issue? If the Pit Stop’s fireworks are gone, where am I supposed to get a Roman candle at 2am? Leadville? No thank you.
Maybe you should buy toothpaste instead. We offer only the best in brands of toothpaste at Kline Dental, Hobart’s only 24-hour dentist!
Didn’t ask. Don’t care.
I’ll say it again: I taught half of you, and none of you learned consequences. Dale Sr. blew up my trash cans with an M-90 in 1987. Dale Jr. is just following tradition.
Alma, your whole teaching career was one long detention slip.
And Hobart still can’t spell.
THIS IS JUST PHASE ONE. THEY SHUT DOWN THE PIT STOP THEN THEY SHUT DOWN THE FOOTBALL FIELD. NO LIGHTS NO GAMES NO HOBART.
You say this every week Hollis
AND I’M RIGHT EVERY WEEK
EVERYONE”S TALKING ABOUT FIREWORKS BUT NOT ABOUT THE POSSUMS DID YOU SEE HOW QUIET THEY WERE TONIGHT…THEY KNOW SOMETHING
Benny, please seek help.
He’s right though my dog’s been acting funny too..
Nobody remembers the truth: Dale Sr. was on to something big before they silenced him. Now they’re coming for Jr. the same way.
Your whole “silenced” story is just bar gossip. Dale Sr. couldn’t silence a beer can, let alone a conspiracy.
keep talking Marvin we all know you’ve been cozy with Leadville since 02
If this ruins the raffle I swear to God I’m done with this town.
Nadine nobody cares about your raffle.
Oh you’ll care when there is no new dugout bench.
I don’t care what any of you say, Punky’s a menace and I’m calling the SHERIFF
YOU are the Sheriff’s biggest headache.
I’m not hiding possums in my basement like some people…
what??
[…] The Pit Stop was closed for fifteen weeks for “repairs” (quotes mandatory). And was also raided by the Fire Marshal’s office. […]
[…] Stays.” The room, which had been sealed with plywood and evidence tape following a State Fire Marshal raid earlier in the year, was no longer being used for fireworks. DBJ’s logic, as best the Herald can reconstruct it, […]