Fire chief warns not to use illegal fireworks

Mountain Home Fire Chief Alan Bermensolo issued a simple message this week for local residents who are tempted to shoot illegal fireworks to celebrate Independence Day.

Don't do it.

According to state law, people are limited to using what are known as "safe and sane" fireworks. Those legal fireworks include those that don't explode or fly more than 10 feet in the air.

Besides paying fines of up to $1,000 per violation for the use of illegal fireworks, those who start fires are legally responsible to pay the costs of fighting the fires, which can run from thousands of dollars for a small fire to millions of dollars for a large one.

Local law enforcement authorities will enforce the fireworks laws.

If it is unclear if a firework is legal or not, Bermensolo noted that "all the stands in town that sell fireworks sell legal fireworks."

That doesn't mean it isn't easy to get hold of illegal fireworks in Idaho.

Despite the number of companies that sell legal items within the city limits, federal regulations involving interstate commerce allow some companies to sell illegal fireworks in other areas of the state, including firecrackers, bottle rockets and Roman candles. Businesses selling those prohibited pyrotechnics require shoppers to sign a document stating they won't fire them off in Idaho.

However, state residents tend to ignore those documents and fire them anyway, Bermensolo said.

"Anyone caught using those are subject to prosecution to the fullest extent of the law," he added.

The fire chief also urged local residents to avoid the temptation of shooting off fireworks, especially illegal ones, on open ranges across the county.

With desert conditions rapidly drying out as temperatures reached triple digits last week, combined with a fuel load of dried grasses on the desert, fireworks increase the risk of range fires. Each year, they're typically cited as the cause of many of those blazes, Bermensolo said.

In previous years, law enforcement officers arrested several local residents in connection with range fires started by illegal fireworks.

"You don't go light fireworks in dry brush," the fire chief said.

The Bureau of Land Management also reminded the public that all fireworks --of any type -- are illegal on public lands.

When handling fireworks, make sure to light them only in a cleared area away from brush and debris, keep water on hand and make sure children are supervised.

The fireworks advisory comes just weeks after the Bureau of Land Management issued a statewide fire prevention order. In effect until Oct. 20, that order prohibits the following actions on all public lands:

* Discharging, using or possessing fireworks

* Discharging a firearm using incendiary or tracer ammunition

* Burning, igniting or causing to burn any tire, wire, magnesium, plastic or any other hazardous or explosive material, including explosive targets.

Anyone who witnesses any fire or illegal activity on public lands should report it immediately by dialing #FIRE or 1-800-974-2373.