STATE: Troopers, firefighters warn of dangers of possessing fireworks

Local News

July 2, 2009

<i><b>SAFETY: </b>State law prohibits sale, possession of fireworks by civilians.</i>

Staff Reports The Lockport Union-Sun %26 Journal Thu Jul 02, 2009, 11:27 PM EDT

The New York State Police and Firemen’s Association of the State of New York are reminding residents of the dangers and consequences of possessing illegal fireworks.

State troopers will be on the lookout for illegal fireworks this weekend, the agency said in a news release.

According to state fireworks law, “fireworks” are defined as anything including a ”blank cartridge, blank cartridge pistol or toy cannon in which explosives are used; firecrackers, sparklers, or other combustible or explosive of like construction.”

“Dangerous Fireworks” are defined by state law as “any fireworks capable of causing serious physical injury and which are: Firecrackers containing more than 50 milligrams of any explosive substance, torpedoes, skyrockets and rockets such as Roman candles, bombs, sparklers more than 10 inches in length or one-fourth of an inch in diameter, or chasers including all devices which dart or travel about the surface of the ground during discharge.”

The law does not prohibit railroad or marine flares, or toy devices that use paper caps containing 0.25 grains or less of explosive compound.

Under the law:

• Any person who possesses, uses, or explodes any fireworks or dangerous fireworks is guilty of a violation.

• Any person who offers, sells or furnishes fireworks or dangerous fireworks to another person is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor. When the value of the fireworks is $500 or more, the provider is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

• Any person who offers, sells or furnishes fireworks or dangerous fireworks to a person under age 18 is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

• Any person who has been convicted of a fireworks violation in the past five years and who offers, sells or furnishes fireworks to a person under age 18 is guilty of a Class E felony.

• If a person possesses fireworks or dangerous fireworks valued at $50 or more, troopers will presume the fireworks were meant to be offered for sale.

The state Firemen’s Association is urging families to learn more about fireworks and the laws governing them.

“Sparklers, bottle rockets and other fireworks should never be used at home,” FASNY President Thomas J. Cuff Jr. said in a news release. “Leave the fireworks to the professionals and attend a locally sponsored display in your neighborhood.”

According to the National Fire Protection Association, thousands of people — most often children and teens — are injured every year during the July 4 holiday while using consumer fireworks.

In 2006, fireworks caused an estimated 32,600 reported fires, according to NFPA statistics. These fires resulted in an estimated six deaths, 70 injuries and $34 million in property damage.

For more information, visit www.fasny.com.

Text Only

Local News

Tucker: 'Best days lie ahead'
The City of Lockport government is smaller than it was 18 months ago but is in a stronger financial place, Mayor Michael W. Tucker said in his annual State of the City address.

February 8, 2012 1 Photo
Trio of new classes proposed for Newfane
Newfane High School could have three new business courses in the fall, one of which would center on video game design.

February 8, 2012
Municipalities take wait-and-see approach on SPCA funding
The City and Town of Lockport are each withholding payments to the Niagara SPCA, while other Eastern Niagara County towns are taking a wait-and-see approach.

February 7, 2012 1 Photo 2 Stories
Rocky II
Friends of Deputy Craig Beiter of the Niagara County Sheriff’s Department plan a benefit on Feb. 26 to raise money to buy and train a new dog for the K-9 Unit.
Beiter’s German shepherd, Deputy Rocky, was killed while on duty in December, and the sheriff’s department is close to getting a replacement.

February 6, 2012 1 Photo 2 Stories
Basket Factory closes
The Basket Factory has gone out of business.
The owners, Julie Thompson Riegle and Dawn Thompson, made the difficult decision last Monday and put the sign on the door Tuesday.

February 6, 2012
No snow is no problem
Unseasonably warm weather didn’t keep Roy-Hart Winterfest from being a fun day for the families who came out to Roy-Hart Elementary School on Saturday.
More than 500 people attended the third annual festivities, which Gasport Lions Club officials said was a big increase from last year. The halls of Roy-Hart Elementary were filled with vendors, programs and movement as excited children rushed from one activity to another.

February 6, 2012
Shovel-ready park has perks
At first glance, the big, orange road sign announcing vacant property on Lockport Road as a “shovel ready certified” building site seems a bit gratuitous.
To companies looking for new places to launch a business, it’s not. The sign in their eyes is a welcome mat, for in three words a community pronounced itself ready, willing and able to make a deal quickly.

February 3, 2012 1 Photo
Roy-Hart to play the big stage
A group of local students will be performing this month at Kleinhans Music Hall just before a BPO concert.
The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra will welcome the Royalton-Hartland High School Mixed Chorus as part of the BPO’s Community Spotlight program on Feb. 19 at Kleinhans in Buffalo. The chorus will perform under the direction of Carolyn Unitas Roos and accompanied by Janice McKinney.

February 3, 2012
Former NFTA cop sentenced
A former Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority police officer will spend six years on probation for sending a sexually explicit photo to a teenage girl, a girl he later had a sexual encounter with.
In addition, John W. Ingham will spend 25 weekends in the service of the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office Work Program. Ingham was sentenced Thursday by State Supreme Court Justice Richard C. Kloch, Sr. Ingham will also register as a sex offender.

February 3, 2012
Speakers address SPCA contract
Animal rescue volunteers want the City of Lockport to hit the SPCA of Niagara where it hurts — in the pocketbook — and help force reform of the troubled animal welfare organization.
Volunteers from multiple small, private rescue groups, and the SPCA itself, descended on the Common Council Wednesday to talk about the city’s ongoing involvement with SPCA.

February 2, 2012 4 Photos
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

STATE: Troopers, firefighters warn of dangers of possessing fireworks

<i><b>SAFETY: </b>State law prohibits sale, possession of fireworks by civilians.</i>

Site Map

Contact Us