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Fireworks Banned on Public Lands

Although non-explosive and non-aerial consumer fireworks are now permitted in Minnesota, they are still banned on public and federal lands. It is unlawful to use these fireworks in parks, roadways, alleys, school grounds, and government property. This ban includes the Superior National Forest, Boundary Waters Canoe Area (www.bwca.cc), and the local state parks.



Minnesota Statute 624.20 now allows for the use on private lands of sparklers, cones, snakes, ground spinners, and party poppers that do not explode or emit anything more than sparks. These must be under 75 grams of chemical mixture per tube or 200 grams or less for multiple tubes. Sparklers are limited to 100 grams per item.



Still illegal are any explosive or aerial fireworks, such as lady fingers, bottle rockets, roman candles, chasers, aerial shells, and others.



Even though the fire danger has been reduced from recent rains, extreme caution should be used when using fireworks. Stay in open areas away from dry grass and brush. Use with adult supervision, and water at hand. Eye protection is recommended.



According to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), eight people per year, on average, were killed in fires started by fireworks. Six people per year, on average, were killed directly by fireworks. In 2004, 9,600 people were treated at hospital emergency rooms for fireworks-related injuries.



More than half of the injuries were to those under the age of 20, and many were inflicted by the now legal sparklers.



How do these injuries occur



-Being too close: Injuries may result from being too close to fireworks when they explode; for example, when someone bends over to look more closely at a firework that has been ignited, or when a misguided bottle rocket hits a nearby person (U.S. CPSC 1996).



-Unsupervised use: One study estimates that children are 11 times more likely to be injured by fireworks if they are unsupervised (U.S. CPSC 1996).



-Lack of physical coordination: Younger children often lack the physical coordination to handle fireworks safely.



-Curiosity: Children are often excited and curious around fireworks which can increase their chances of being injured (e.g., when they re-examine a firecracker dud that fails to ignite) (U.S. CPSC 1996).



-Experimentation: Homemade fireworks (e.g., ones made of the powder from several firecrackers) can lead to dangerous explosions (U.S. CPSC 1996).

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