Local Fire Marshal Gives Fireworks Safety Tips

Residents across the Twin Cities will flock to professional fireworks displays in the coming days. Many will even buy fireworks to enjoy on their own. 

However, state law governs fireworks use and many popular types are illegal in Minnesota. 

Tom Jenson, fire marshal for our neighbor Edina, offers two criteria to judge if a firework is legal in Minnesota:

• It does not leave the ground;
• It does not cause an explosive effect.

This means that many popular types of fireworks—some of which are legal in neighboring states—are against the law in Minnesota. These include bottle rockets, roman candles and firecrackers. 

Jenson says the major concern with launching fireworks is the lack of control after they launch. 

“Once you light them, you don’t know where they’re going to land.”

And sometimes they don’t land where you expect. 

In 2010, fireworks caused an estimated 15,500 fires in the U.S., including 1,100 structure fires, 300 vehicle fires, and 14,100 other fires, according to the National Fire Prevention Association. These fires resulted in an estimated 60 non-firefighter injuries and caused $36 million in direct property damage.

Minnesota has had its share of incidents, too.

A few years ago, the joined Edina and St. Louis Park departments to put out a roof fire at a house. It was later determined that the fire was caused by some neighborhood youths who were firing off bottle rockets. The house sustained damage to the roof from the fire and to the interior from firefighters' efforts to extinguish the blaze. 

“Our recommendation is always to leave the fireworks to the professionals,” Jenson said.

He also noted that professionals can be injured by fireworks from time to time.

Jenson recommends keeping an eye on children while fireworks are in use. Even legal fireworks can cause burns. Sparkers burn at 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, which is hot enough to cause third-degree burns, he said.  Under state law, illegal fireworks can be confiscated and their owner can face fines or possible imprisonment.