Arizona’s new fireworks law clears up confusion
Jun 24, 2014, 7:22 AM | Updated: 7:23 am
PHOENIX — Changes in Arizona’s fireworks laws will go into effect Tuesday, making the regulations more uniform and less confusing.
The state law over the past few years was daunting — some cities allowed fireworks, others did not. The same went for the sales and purchase of fireworks.
Under the new law, signed by Gov. Jan Brewer, private citizens are allowed to buy and use certain types of fireworks through July 6.
“Items that don’t go into the air and don’t explode, like ground spinners and fountains, are permissible,” said
Brian Scholl, an inspector for the Phoenix Fire Department.
Scholl said even though fireworks are legal, fire officials would prefer if people didn’t buy them.
“Our conditions are so dry, don’t use them. Go to the fireworks show and let the pros handle it,” he said.
Certain types of fireworks are still banned year-round under the new law: firecrackers, bottle rockets and roman candles.
Firefighters are anxious about the upcoming Fourth of July, which sends them to more fires than any other day.
The Valley has only received about an inch of rain since mid-December. In March a 12-year-old playing with a ground-based firework caused $400,000 worth of damage to a north Phoenix home.
