Town officials urge caution with fireworks use

By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — For the first time since 1949, Maine residents are allowed to possess and display fireworks. But just because most fireworks are legal, that doesn’t mean local police and fire officials are not without concerns.
    Houlton’s fire and police chiefs addressed the issue at Monday night’s town council meeting and both stated they expected to see a few minor issues this holiday weekend because many people are unaware of the laws surrounding the use of fireworks.
    “I think it is going to be real confusing,” said Houlton Fire Chief Milton Cone. “It’s quite a learning curve. I think most people, under the assumption that the state of Maine allows consumer fireworks, that all fireworks are legal. That is not the case.”
    According to the Office of Maine State Fire Marshal, the following products are illegal to sell, use or possess in Maine under the new law — missile-type rockets; helicopters and aerial spinners; sky rockets and bottle rockets. Hand-held “snappers,” a small pouch that detonated when thrown onto a hard surface such as the road and were commonly sold as children’s toys in the 1980s, are also not allowed, Cone said.
    As of June, there were eight fireworks stores in Maine cities and towns — Ellsworth, Edgecomb, Manchester, Monmouth, Scarborough, South Paris and Winslow.
    Several communities have enacted laws to either limit or ban the sale of fireworks in their towns.
    In December, the town of Houlton drafted a fairly strict ordinance to regulate where and when fireworks can be set off. The ordinance states that any person age 21 or older wishing to use fireworks may do so provided they are discharged in an area in excess of one acre. Also, fireworks may be discharged provided they are a minimum of 300 feet away from buildings, 100 feet away from wooded areas and 300 feet away from a public gathering of 25 or more people.
    Fireworks are not allowed between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. except for two holidays. On July 4, they are banned from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m., while on New Year’s Day, they are banned between 2 a.m. and 8 a.m.
    Also, use of fireworks is not allowed whenever there is a “high” risk of forest fires as displayed on the sign at the Houlton Fire Department or on the Maine Forest Service website: www.maine.gov/doc/mfs/firedanger/fire.html. And finally, the person discharging fireworks must be 21 years of age or older.
    Fireworks will not be allowed inside Houlton Community Park, except for the professional pyrotechnic display on the evening of July 4.
    Those in town limits wishing to shoot off fireworks are also required to contact the Houlton Fire Department and Police Department prior to their display. The fire department must be contacted so that the proper fire danger for that day can be determined, while the police department must be notified to avoid false alarms should a resident report hearing an explosion.
    Council chairman Paul Cleary asked what happens to those under the age of 21 who are found to be in possession of fireworks.
    Those who violate the fireworks ordinance will be subject to a civil violation, Houlton Police Chief Butch Asselin said.
    “We will handle it on a case-by-case basis,” Asselin said. “If someone throws a firecracker under a moving car, that deserves more attention than an 18-year-old throwing a firecracker on their lawn. It depends on the circumstances.”
    Cone also offered the following fireworks safety tips from the State Fire Marshal’s Office:
    • Purchase only Maine permissible consumer fireworks, available at licensed stores, and only the quantity that you will use.
    • Fireworks can only be used on property that you own, or have written permission from the landowner.
    • Have a water hose available in case of a fire.
    • Only those age 21 or older can possess or use consumer fireworks
    • Always wear eye protection and follow all directions provided
    • Light only one device at a time
    • Keep spectators at a safe distance and be considerate of neighbors, pets and the environment. 
    • Clean up all debris when finished
    • Devices that do not discharge should be placed in water, after setting alone for 15 minutes.
    • Always make sure that unused fireworks, matches and lighters are kept out of the reach of children.
    “Basically, I think there will be a huge learning curve,” Cone said. “I think there will be some mistakes made.”