READY TO BLOW
Safety first: What you need to know about risks and rules when lighting fireworks
Fireworks can be a fun way to celebrate special events, but state and local laws carry stiff penalties for people who set them off outside of allowable dates and times.
Michigan law allow cities, villages and townships to limit the hours for setting off fireworks, but municipalities cannot change state laws for certain holidays.
Under state law, residents can use fireworks from 11 a.m. Dec. 31 to 1 a.m. Jan. 1 and until 11:45 p.m. on:
• Saturday and Sunday before Memorial Day and on the holiday
• June 29 to July 4 (with July 5 allowed during years when that date is a Friday or Saturday).
• Saturday and Sunday before Labor Day, which this year is Sept.
4.
People who ignore those limits can face fines up to $1,000. The law is enforced by area police.
Michigan law also regulates who can sell fireworks — retailers must be licensed and follow state and local rules or risk fines between up to $5,000.00 to $40,000. Consumergrade fireworks range from groundbased fountains or smoke devices to bottle rockets and aerial devices.
Anyone found responsible for property damage can face criminal charges, with a conviction leading to up to 90 days in jail and fines up to $5,000. A serious injury can lead to up to five years in prison and fines up to $5,000; if someone violating the state’s fireworks law results in a death, they can face up to 15 years in prison and fines up to $10,000.
It’s illegal in Michigan to use fireworks while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Fireworks caused more than 11,500 injuries across the U.S. in 2021, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Nearly 3,000 of those involved children age 15 and younger, said Troy Fire Lt. Keith Young.
Heat from a sparkler ranges from 1,200 to 2,000 degrees, he said, adding that glass melts at 900 degrees.
“Most of the kids don’t have shoes on, so sparklers typically burn their feet,” he said, citing one type of common emergency call related to fireworks.
Careful handling of all fireworks can prevent injuries and property damage, he said. In 2021, firefighters across the U.S. responded to 12,000 fires caused by fireworks, which led to more than $59 million in damage, Young said.
A common error people make is underestimating how long it takes fireworks to cool off. He recommends keeping them in water overnight before putting used fireworks in the trash.
“We’ve been extremely lucky so far, but one year some fireworks in a trash can started a fire and caught the siding of a house on fire but they called 911 fast enough that we were able to keep it from burning the house,” he said.
Young personally prefers to leave fireworks displays to the professionals. He likes going to Clawson’s show, where fire trucks are on display for a couple hours before dusk.
Young and Waterford’s Deputy Fire Chief Carl Wallace offered this safety checklist:
• Use fireworks outside with a water-filled buck or garden hose nearby in case of accidents.
• Wet down the ground when the display is based. Despite recent rain, grass and plants near the ground remain dried out.
• Keep count of how many fireworks will be set off — and use that to ensure all debris is picked up.
• Mark a safety perimeter: 35 feet for groundbased fireworks and 150 feet for aerial fireworks.
• Ditch duds safely. Whatever doesn’t go off should be allowed to sit for five to 10 minutes (in case an explosion is delayed) before an adult puts it into a bucket of water. Never attempt to re-light a failed firework.
• Never put any part of your body directly over a firework.
• Use a grill lighter or other stem light on a firework. Never hold it while lighting the fuse.
• Light one firework at a time to reduce the risk of accidents.
• Adults should supervise children handling sparklers, which can quickly ignite their clothes or burn their feet, hands or other body parts.
• Have a plan for people and pets who don’t enjoy loud fireworks. Have them stay indoors and close curtains or blinds. Use a TV, radio or digital device for distraction. Some people may use sound-muffling headsets, while pets may be distracted with treat-filled toys.
• Soak used and unused fireworks in water for a few hours or overnight before discarding.
• Consider safe alternatives: party poppers, bubbles, aerosol string, or glow sticks.