Next Monday the United States will be celebrating its 235th birthday and, as has been a custom for many years, many Americans will be celebrating this occasion with the use of fireworks. Police, fire, and emergency medical personnel wants everyone to observe the following Indiana fireworks laws to make their holiday celebration not only legal, but safe.
•Only individuals 18 years of age or older can purchase fireworks.
•A person 18 years of age or older has to be present when anyone younger than 18 is using or possessing fireworks.
•Fireworks can only be used on the user’s property, the property of someone who granted permission for fireworks to be discharged, or a place designated by the Indiana State Fire Marshal for the discharge of consumer fireworks.
•Fireworks can only be discharged between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. any day except on Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, and New Year’s Eve where the times are 9:00 a.m. to midnight.
•Don’t consume alcohol when discharging fireworks.
•Don’t discharge fireworks so ash or debris lands on neighboring property. Accidental fires have started as a result of smoldering bottle rockets landing on asphalt shingles.
•Have a can or bucket for children to place spent sparklers so to avoid burns.
Anyone who violates the above law can be charged with a Class C Infraction. Further, if a person recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally uses fireworks and the violation causes property damage they can be charged with a class A misdemeanor. If the misuse results in bodily injury the penalty enhanced to a class D felony and if a death results the penalty is enhanced to a class C felony.
Children using fireworks should be monitored closely by an adult. Each year many children suffer severe burns to the hands and arms as well as other injuries due to improper handling of sparklers, bottle rockets, and firecrackers. Do your part in making this year’s celebration a safe one.
For more information on Fireworks Laws and Safety visit the Indiana Department of Homeland Security website at http://www.in.gov/dhs then click on the “Get Prepared” link on the left side of the page.
