This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Fireworks in Michigan: What's Legal and What's Safe?

Here's a handy guide to state regulations, plus tips to make sure you don't get burned or ticketed this Fourth of July.

Fireworks are to the Fourth of July what evergreen trees are to Christmas: an absolute must—but also a safety hazard if not used properly.

The Michigan Bureau of Fire Services warns that though beautiful, fireworks can be dangerous.

"Fireworks can quickly turn a Fourth of July celebration into a tragedy when children and adults are injured while using fireworks,” Michigan State Fire Marshal Ronald R. Farr said. “For all the fun and excitement of fireworks, they account for an increasingly large number of injuries and fires that are preventable when proper and strict safety measures are taken.”

Find out what's happening in Dexterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Farr recommends attending professional fireworks displays, rather than trying to create them at home. But if you must, here’s a sampling of some important safety tips to remember when you make sparks fly:

  • Do not allow unsupervised children to use or play with fireworks—even sparklers.
  • Once you have purchased them, store fireworks in a cool, dry place and check each package for special storage instructions.
  • Light fireworks only outdoors on a flat, smooth surface at least 15 feet away from houses and highly flammable materials such as dry grass or mulch. 
  • Be sure other people and pets are out of range before lighting fireworks.
  • Keep unused fireworks away from firing areas.
  • Wear eye protection when handling fireworks and never carry them in your pocket.
  • Have a garden hose, bucket of water and wet towels ready to use immediately in case of a malfunction or fire. 
  • Dispose of fireworks properly by soaking them in water before putting them in a garbage can. Remember that cylinder fountains and cone fountains can still be burning on the inside after the shower of sparks has stopped and you should soak them in water before throwing them away to prevent a fire.

Wondering what kinds of fireworks are legal in Michigan without a permit?

Find out what's happening in Dexterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Outdoor displays must comply with National Fire Protection Association standards according to NFPA 1123: Code for Fireworks Display, which can be found at www.nfpa.org. But as a general reference, if you can't buy it in Michigan, you probably can't use it in Michigan.

To find out more information regarding fireworks safety and the permit process, visit the Bureau of Fire Services website at www.michigan.gov/bfs or contact the Bureau of Fire Safety at 517-241-8847.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?