As Fourth of July celebrations approach, fire officials across the Gulf Coast are urging residents to think twice before lighting their own fireworks, warning that rules on where and how they can be used vary widely from one South Alabama city to the next.
Nationally, fireworks send thousands of people to the emergency room every year. A federal safety study found roughly 11,400 fireworks-related injuries and eight deaths in a single recent year, and local officials say most of those hurt are children under 15, with injuries commonly striking the hands, fingers, face and eyes.
Steve Holmes, a public information officer with the Alabama State Fire Marshal’s office, said some basic rules apply no matter where you are: fireworks should never be discharged within 600 feet of a building or aimed at another person, both of which can result in a citation. He also recommended lighting fireworks only on a hard, flat surface rather than in a field or pasture, and being mindful of pets, since the loud pops can seriously distress animals.
In the city of Mobile, the rules are simple: fireworks are banned outright. Mobile Fire-Rescue spokesman Steve Huffman said residents cannot legally buy, sell, make or use fireworks anywhere within city limits, and encouraged people to instead attend professionally run displays. He noted that sparklers, often assumed to be harmless, can burn at temperatures around 1,200 degrees.
Orange Beach has a similar restriction, according to fire marshal Craig Stephenson, who said the city prohibits personal fireworks use and only permits displays handled by licensed pyrotechnics companies. Gulf Shores takes the same approach, said fire marshal George Surry, who noted that fireworks are illegal within the city unless set off by a company holding both a city assembly permit and a state license. Surry said residents sometimes ignore the rule, but doing so can still result in a citation.
Spanish Fort offers residents more flexibility. Fire Rescue Captain Howard Popple said fireworks are permitted within city limits between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m., though he cautioned people to avoid shooting them near heavily wooded areas, where dry vegetation can easily catch fire.
State Fire Marshal Edward Paulk’s office also released a broader list of safety reminders for anyone using fireworks legally this holiday: keep a water supply or fire extinguisher nearby, only light fireworks outdoors away from dry grass or other flammable material, use a punk, flare or extended lighter rather than a match to keep a safe distance, never try to relight a dud, wear safety glasses, avoid alcohol while handling fireworks, and pay attention to wind and weather conditions before lighting anything.
Officials across the region say the patchwork of local ordinances means residents should check with their own city’s fire department before assuming fireworks are allowed, since what’s legal in one Baldwin County town may draw a citation just a few miles away in Mobile County.