Officials: Before buying fireworks, check local laws

By Melanie Marshall

Fireworks have become an Independence Day tradition across the nation. However, before purchasing fireworks, buyers should ensure the legality of the pyrotechnics of choice.

North Carolina has strict fireworks laws. The only legal fireworks are sparklers, fountains, smoke devices, snake and glow worms, trick noisemakers, and toy pistol caps.

Pyrotechnics intended to spin, leave the ground or fly through the air are prohibited, as are firecrackers. Any fireworks that explode and cause a report, or loud percussion noise, are also illegal.

If choosing to use legal fireworks at home, Watauga County Sheriff Len Hagaman offers a few tips for safety. Fireworks, including sparklers, should never be handled by children.

Sparklers burn at very high temperatures and can ignite clothing or cause severe burns.

The person lighting pyrotechnics should be wearing eye protection and no part of the body should extend over the firework as the fuse is lit. Fireworks should not be pointed toward people, animals, vehicles, structures or flammable materials.

A bucket of water and a water hose should be nearby to extinguish any accidental grass or brush burns.

A firework that fails to ignite properly should be doused by the hose and then placed in the bucket of water before disposal. Trying to re-light a “dud” could result in a shortened fuse and immediate detonation.

If watching a professional display, spectators should be at least 500 feet away from the ignition point.

Hagaman recommends people immediately leave an area where amateurs are using fireworks in an unsafe manner.

Fountains should be placed on a paved surface, away from dry grass, wooded areas or structures. Read and follow all instructions and avoid purchasing fireworks that do not include instructions written in English.

“Following these precautions will help the children and citizens of Watauga County stay safe and healthy this holiday weekend,” Hagaman said.

The sheriff’s office will have increased patrol over the holiday weekend.

“Our role in fireworks is answering the calls that are received from citizens mostly relating to noise. Most of the noise complaints are generated from fireworks that do have a report, that is they explode with a loud noise or percussion, and are usually found to originate from either Tennessee or South Carolina,” Hagaman said. “We do take the complaints seriously, especially as it relates to the potential for property damage and/or fire.”
Over the last five years, the Watauga County Fire Marshal’s Office reports there have been a few small brush fires ignited by fireworks, but no large fires.

The fire marshal’s office will also be on patrol over the Fourth of July to help handle any complaints concerning the illegal use of fireworks.

Fire code officials are authorized to write citations and dispose of illegal fireworks.

Residents within the towns of Boone, Blowing Rock, Beech Mountain or Seven Devils should notify their respective fire and police departments.

The possession of illegal pyrotechnics can result in both criminal and civil penalties.

Public displays, such as those in Boone, Tweetsie Railroad, Blowing Rock Country Club, Beaver Dam, are ignited by professionals and obtain permits from the fire marshal of the town or county.