Be Responsible When Lighting Fireworks this July 4th

Fireworks are causing a big bang this season and not just up in the sky. Many Michiganders were previously forced to travel to Indiana and Ohio to buy consumer fireworks. A new law was passed that now allows the sale of consumer fireworks in the State of Michigan that includes high projectiles like roman candles, bottle rockets and aerials, in addition to the traditional sparklers, party poppers and a variety of ground based devices.

This new law will surely bring an increase of firework use in the state – and with that an increase in resident responsibility on the use and safety of these devices.

The Brighton Area Fire Authority fears an increase in the number of injuries and burns due to most users not familiar with these new aerial devices. We encourage residents to work with local vendors and those running the stores and ask what a specific device does, what the clearances should be and how to store fireworks along with how to best put something out if it doesn’t go off. And to remember that anything shot off your property, also needs to land back on your property.

The Michigan Bureau of Fire Services and the state Fire Marshal’s office is handling the approval and inspection process of the tents and facilities looking to sell consumer fireworks and the new vendors and businesses coming into town have went through the permitting process. “Jeff’s Fireworks” on Grand River in Genoa Township is one locally that made the application deadline.

If you do decide to try out the bigger fireworks this year use some common sense safety rules and wear appropriate footwear and hand protections and always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations on how to launch them. It is best to store fireworks outside of your home in a garage or shed and have them secured inside of a metal container if possible and out of the reach of children.

Another, much safer, alternative to launching your own fireworks is to attend one of the many professional firework displays put on by many of the surrounding communities!

As always, if your smoke alarms do not work or you do not have a smoke alarm contact the Brighton Area Fire Authority 810-229-6640 and we will replace or install them for free! Working smoke alarms dramatically increase your chances of surviving a fire.