Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By TOM LAVENTURE
Ironwood — Michigan’s fireworks laws allow for a wide variety of commercial grade aerial items, but the limited window for use is meant to reduce the amount of noise that can cause stress to other residents and pets, according to Andrew DiGiorgio, director of the Ironwood Public Safety Department.
People buy fireworks and have to hold on to them for two weeks and that is frustrating for some people, he said. The IPSD will enforce the Michigan law that allows fireworks use from Monday, June 29 to Saturday, July 4., from 11 a.m. to 11:45 p.m, and again Sunday, July 5 because the holiday falls on a Saturday.
Ironwood Mayor Annette Burchell said at the regular city commission meeting Monday that residents are contacting the city regarding loud fireworks use at all hours. She asked DiGiorgio to post the Michigan fireworks law on its website and social media pages.
Michigan law allows fireworks to be used from 11 a.m. Dec. 31 until 1 a.m. on Jan. 1, the Saturday and Sunday before Memorial Day until 11:45 p.m., from June 29 to July 4 until 11:45 p.m., or July 5, if the holiday falls on a Friday or Saturday, until 11:45 p.m., and the Saturday and Sunday before Labor Day, until 11:45 p.m.
“We just want to educate the public to understand when the fireworks may legally be used,” Burchell said. “I just don’t think that people understand the state law.”
On Sunday evening there were loud fireworks that sounded like an explosion, she said. They are very disruptive and disturbing to people, especially children and babies, and certainly are very stressful to animals, she said.
Prior to 2011, Michigan had very stringent fireworks laws, DiGiorgio said. The Michigan Fireworks Safety Act of 2011 was amended in 2018, giving local government entities — villages, townships and cities — the right to restrict the days and times for their residents to use consumer fireworks by enacting a local ordinance.
Ironwood adheres to the state law which requires all consumer fireworks meet Consumer Product Safety Commission standards. Persons age 18 years or older may purchase or use low impact, ground-based fireworks and also requires consumer-grade fireworks to be ignited only on personal property.
The law states that it is illegal to ignite fireworks on public property to include streets and sidewalks, school property, church property, or another person’s property without permission. It is also illegal to discharge fireworks when intoxicated or under the influence of drugs.
“We fall back on a public peace ordinance so that with any noise or disturbance we can cite them for public peace violation,” DiGiorgio said. “We’re not looking to do that. We are looking to educate.”
Warnings are common for first time offenders and repeat offenders are cited, he said. The majority of people comply after learning that they were acting outside of the law, he said.
