Celebrating with fireworks now legal in city limits
By SHARON KERR

This New Year’s weekend will be the first time that residents of Jasper can legally buy and shoot fireworks in the city. Under the new ordinances passed by the city council in August of this year, fireworks are now legal in the city limits.

Jasper Fire Marshal Stephen Williamson says that does not mean any kind of fireworks, any time you want.

Fireworks can be shot off between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. from Dec. 29 to Jan. 4. New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, the 10 p.m. curfew is extended to 1:30 a.m. New Year’s Day.

The ordinance permits 1.4G Class C fireworks only, which are the small common fireworks sold to consumers. The large fireworks used for big shows, 1.3G Class B, are not allowed to be sold or discharged in the city.

Children under age 15 are not allowed to purchase or discharge fireworks except when being directly supervised by a parent, guardian or responsible adult.

Williamson says he hopes the adults will “provide safety glasses to protect ‘visions of sugar plums’ safe” and keep children’s welfare foremost in planning activities with fireworks.

One precaution required by city ordinance is that water must be accessible any time fireworks are discharged, at least five gallons of water or a garden hose with the water on. All discharged fireworks should be saturated in water before discarding.

Didn’t shoot all the fireworks you bought? It is illegal to store fireworks past Jan. 5. The next legal time frame to have fireworks in your possession is not until June 24-July 28.

Williamson is the enforcement arm of the fire

and police departments. The fines for failing to comply with rules can range from $200 to $2,000. In addition, a person whose storage or discharge of fireworks causes a fire department response will be charged with the expense for fire suppression, at least $300 or more, and that person may be liable for damages far beyond that.