More Communities in Stark County Opt to Ban Personal Fireworks: Fire Risks and Safety Concerns Cited

A few more communities in Stark County, Ohio, have decided to prohibit the use of personal fireworks, joining others that have already banned or restricted fireworks. A state law that went into effect last year allows individuals to set off fireworks on their own property or with permission on designated holidays. However, communities have the option to set restrictions or opt out entirely. Louisville, Brewster, Hartville, and Navarre have all chosen to opt out, meaning fireworks are not allowed in those areas. Hills and Dales and Minerva also banned fireworks last year, while Jackson and Perry Townships have restricted the hours.

Officials from these communities have stated that they do not recall any recent fires or accidents caused by fireworks use. However, they believe that having ordinances in place to ban fireworks can help reduce the risk of fires and injuries. The officials also mentioned that they were not aware of any residents taking a position on the bans or restrictions.

Under the state law, fireworks can be set off from 4 to 11 p.m. on July 3, 4, and 5, as well as the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday before and after July 4.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, fireworks were involved in over 11,500 injuries in 2021, with a 25% increase in injuries between 2006 and 2021. Fireworks have also caused 163 fires in Ohio since 2022, resulting in nearly $750,000 in damages.

Hartville Mayor Cindy Billings stated that the village’s council approved an ordinance last October banning fireworks use due to the risk of problems and fires. Brewster already had an ordinance in place since 1930 that banned fireworks, and no discussions have been held to remove the ban. Louisville Mayor Pat Fallot mentioned that the city’s council unanimously approved an ordinance banning fireworks due to fire risks. Violating the ordinance is a first-degree misdemeanor punishable by jail time or a fine.

Navarre Council President Josh Smith stated that Navarre did not have any ordinances prohibiting fireworks, so the council unanimously approved a ban after the state ban was lifted. Hills and Dales council also unanimously approved an ordinance to ban fireworks due to concerns about noise, fire risks, and injuries.

Fireworks can only be set off on selected days authorized by the state, including New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Memorial Day weekend, July 3, 4, and 5, Labor Day weekend, and Diwali.

Legal fireworks in Ohio include bottle rockets, firecrackers, Roman candles, and repeaters. Illegal fireworks include M-80 cherry bombs, M-100 ash cans, M-250 quarter sticks, and M-1000 half sticks. Trick fireworks, such as smoke bombs and sparklers, can be used anytime and can be purchased at retail shops, gas stations, and grocery stores.

Overall, the communities in Stark County are taking measures to prioritize safety and reduce the risk of fires and injuries by either banning or restricting the use of personal fireworks.Several more communities in Stark County, Ohio have decided to prohibit the use of personal fireworks, joining others that have already implemented bans or restrictions. A state law that went into effect last year allows individuals to set off fireworks on their own property or with permission on designated holidays. However, communities have the option to set their own restrictions or opt out entirely.

Louisville, Brewster, Hartville, and Navarre have all chosen to opt out, meaning that fireworks are not legally allowed in these areas. This decision comes after Hills and Dales and Minerva banned fireworks last year. Jackson and Perry Townships have also implemented restrictions on the hours during which fireworks can be used.

City and village officials in these communities have stated that they do not recall any recent fires or accidents caused by fireworks. However, they believe that implementing ordinances to ban fireworks will help reduce the risk of fires and injuries. None of the officials interviewed were aware of any residents taking a position on the bans.

Under the state law, fireworks can be set off from 4 to 11 p.m. on July 3, 4, and 5, as well as the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday before and after July 4.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, fireworks were involved in over 11,500 injuries in 2021, with a 25% increase in injuries between 2006 and 2021. Fireworks have also caused 163 fires in Ohio since 2022, resulting in nearly $750,000 in damages.

Hartville Mayor Cindy Billings stated that the village council approved an ordinance last October that generally bans fireworks use due to the risk of fire. Brewster already had an ordinance in place since 1930 that banned fireworks, and no discussions have been held to remove the ban. Louisville Mayor Pat Fallot cited concerns about fire risks as the reason for the city’s ban on fireworks.

Navarre Council President Josh Smith explained that the village did not have any existing ordinances on fireworks, so the council unanimously approved a ban after the state’s ban was lifted. Hills and Dales council also unanimously approved an ordinance to ban fireworks due to concerns about noise, fire risks, and injuries.

The use of fireworks in Ohio is only permitted on selected days authorized by the state, including New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Memorial Day weekend, July 3, 4, and 5, Labor Day weekend, and Diwali.

Legal fireworks in Ohio include bottle rockets, firecrackers, Roman candles, and repeaters. Illegal fireworks include M-80 cherry bombs, M-100 ash cans, M-250 quarter sticks, and M-1000 half sticks. Trick fireworks such as smoke bombs and sparklers can be used anytime and are available for purchase at retail shops.

Overall, the communities in Stark County are prioritizing safety by implementing bans or restrictions on fireworks use, aiming to prevent fires and injuries.

What are the reasons behind the decisions made by Hartville, Brewster, Louisville, Navarre, and Hills and Dales to implement bans or restrictions on fireworks?

Re of any residents taking a position on the bans or restrictions.

Under the state law, fireworks can only be set off from 4 to 11 p.m. on specific days, including July 3, 4, and 5, as well as the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday before and after July 4.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, fireworks were involved in over 11,500 injuries in 2021, with a 25% increase in injuries between 2006 and 2021. In Ohio alone, fireworks have caused 163 fires since 2022, resulting in nearly $750,000 in damages.

Hartville Mayor Cindy Billings explained that the village council approved an ordinance last October to ban fireworks due to the risk of problems and fires. Brewster already had a ban on fireworks in place since 1930, and there have been no discussions to lift the ban. Louisville Mayor Pat Fallot mentioned that the city council unanimously approved an ordinance banning fireworks due to fire risks. Violating the ordinance is considered a first-degree misdemeanor, which may result in jail time or a fine.

Navarre Council President Josh Smith stated that Navarre did not have any ordinances prohibiting fireworks, so the council unanimously approved a ban after the state ban was lifted. Hills and Dales council also unanimously approved an ordinance to ban fireworks due to concerns about noise, fire risks, and injuries.

Legal fireworks in Ohio include bottle rockets, firecrackers, Roman candles, and repeaters. However, illegal fireworks such as M-80 cherry bombs, M-100 ash cans, M-250 quarter sticks, and M-1000 half sticks are not allowed. Trick fireworks like smoke bombs and sparklers are permitted and can be purchased at various retail shops, gas stations, and grocery stores.

Overall, the communities in Stark County are prioritizing safety by either banning or restricting the use of personal fireworks. These measures aim to reduce the risk of fires and injuries associated with fireworks.