Fireworks Safety - Keep the Fourth of July Safe for You and Your Neighbors

July 4th weekend is here and the Auburn Police and Fire Departments want the people of Auburn to enjoy a happy and safe 4th of July.  Many people enjoy time with family to celebrate Independence Day.  Leading up to and for weeks after many individuals purchase and set off fireworks.  

Over the years laws have changed, but keep in mind what are legal and illegal fireworks:

It is illegal to buy or set off any of the following anywhere in the state unless you have a permit:

Firecrackers (includes M-80 style), bottle rockets, roman candles, spinners, and any other type of firework that goes up in the air.

Legal fireworks include:

Sparklers and other devices: The law defines sparklers as devices that produce colored sparks or a colored flame, make a whistling or crackling noise, and give off smoke; that means sparklers on wooden (not metal) sticks, cylindrical and cone-shaped sparkling fountains, snakes, party poppers filled with confetti, snappers wrapped in paper, and smoking devices.

Also, please be aware of and sensitive to the needs of your neighbors and keep in mind that fireworks devices can have a traumatic effect on pets, our military veterans suffering from PTSD and people that suffer from anxiety or panic attacks.

New York State Law allows for the sale and use of a specific category of consumer fireworks known as Sparkling Devices.  Sparkling Devices: Are ground based or handheld devices that produce a shower of colored sparks and or a colored flame, audible crackling or whistling noise and smoke. The law limits the type, size and construction of Sparkling Devices and requires that these devices must be hand held or mounted on a base or spike and be limited in sizes that range from 1 to 500 grams of pyrotechnic composition.

**All other types of consumer fireworks, including firecrackers, bottle rockets, roman candles, spinners and aerial devices, remain illegal statewide.**