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Fireworks rules to be enforced

Carrie Porter, Rocky Mountain News

Published June 28, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Denver firefighters examine the aftermath of a 2003 apartment fire on Leetsdale Drive that was started by kids playing with fireworks in bushes outside the building.

Photo by The Rocky / 2003

Denver firefighters examine the aftermath of a 2003 apartment fire on Leetsdale Drive that was started by kids playing with fireworks in bushes outside the building.

Anthony Ross

Anthony Ross

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Hot, dry conditions and rising fire danger mean fire officials plan to strictly enforce fireworks regulations in the next few weeks.

"When there is a severe drought, illegal fireworks just exacerbate the potential for fire," said Margie Martinez of the Weld County Sheriff's Office.

Today marks the final day of Lightning Safety & Wildfire Awareness Week, which Gov. Bill Ritter declared this year "to promote the awareness and education of necessary actions and strategies to prevent wildfires."

Kevin Klein, director of the Colorado Division of Fire Safety, said several counties have enacted fire bans.

Eleven counties have restricted fires and fireworks. They are Baca, Bent, Cheyenne, Crowley, Elbert, Fremont, Garfield, Kiowa, Lincoln, Otero and Pueblo.

"I monitor the weather on a day-to-day basis because just a couple of days of dry weather and wind will change the climate dramatically," said Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson.

"If it becomes a situation, I would initiate a fire ban, and the fire chiefs say it may be a possibility for Monday," he said.

Illegal fireworks pose a serious threat to Denver's mountain parks, where people forget that Denver's regulations pertain to areas outside the city.

"It is a continual problem for parks like Red Rocks and Evergreen Lake," said Jill McGranahan, spokeswoman for Denver Parks and Recreation.

Within the city and county of Denver, police and fire officials have added eight patrol units specifically for firework violators. Their "Don't Cross the Line" campaign started Friday and will continue to July 6 to target fire safety concerns.

"Even if we're going to have rain over the next few days, we very much anticipate a dry season," said Alex Paez, public information officer for the Denver Fire Department. "We've already had several 90-degree days."

Five questions for Anthony Ross

* Fireworks vendor, on missionary fundraising through fireworks

On the corner of Parker and Iliff two large circus tents appeared last week. With about $75,000 worth of fireworks in each tent, the Aurora First Assembly of God youth group hopes to make a bang with missionary fundraising. Today is the opening day with hours from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., running through the July Fourth holiday season. Youth pastor Ross, 26, spoke to Rocky reporter Carrie Porter:

1. What kind of fireworks are you selling?

We have about 75 different types of fireworks. The Big Bang is probably our biggest firework and costs about $600. Sparklers and pop-its are the smaller fireworks that are pretty popular.

2. How did your youth group get involved in selling fireworks?

This is our first year running this fund-raiser. It presents an opportunity for organizations to sell fireworks and keep a percentage of the profits. We have the possibility of making about $15,000. This is our biggest fundraiser.

3. Where will the money be used?

We hope to donate the money to the "Speed the Light" youth missions ministry, which raises money for missionary equipment. Youth ages 13 to 18 will pitch in throughout the day.

4. What about fireworks' legal restrictions?

It's up to people to be aware of where you use them. Right now we're in a small piece of unincorporated Arapahoe County. Literally walk across the street, and it's illegal to shoot them off.

5. Did you play with fireworks when you were a kid?

Growing up in Ohio, we could use just about any kind of firework. So I used to shoot all kinds back then.

Fireworks regulations

* If I buy fireworks from a legal fireworks stand, can I use them at home?

It depends on where you live. A safe rule of thumb is if you live in a city in the Denver area, all fireworks are illegal. Parker and Longmont are two exceptions.

* But what if I don't live in a city?

Then you are under county jurisdiction. Counties in Colorado follow state law, which legalizes fireworks as long as they do not explode or leave the ground. So stay away from cherry bombs, bottle rockets and firecrackers, but go ahead and light the sparklers.

* What happens if I get caught with illegal firecrackers?

It varies by county. In Denver, you can receive fines up to $999 or six months in jail.

porterc@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5625

Comments

  • June 28, 2008

    2:59 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    clyde writes:

    What is the fine for firing live bullets at a rival gang memeber? Is it more or less than fireworks, and is it more or less a priority for the Denver Police? Are the Police going to stop busting gang bangers to get those nasty fireworks people?

    Gotta love those priorities. Drive-by shootings are OK, but your garden variety Black Cat firecracker is not. Window Dressing.

  • June 28, 2008

    4:36 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    LOUIE writes:

    The 4th of July celebrates the peoples will over the oppressor; think of the police as the colonial did the british. If every American shows up what can they really do but threaten us with hallow words. Yes, there are much greater concerns than the people celebrating thier independence. I think they create safety issues to enhance thier coffers; now they restrict us in our celebration of freedom. I guess we are not really free are we? Light a traditional firecracker to celebrate our nations independence, like your grandfather and his grandfather before him, and the state of Colorado will prosecute you and add to thier coffers. Hey, if you pay them an admission fee, they'll let you watch thier fireworks which are much safer...what a joke! I'll pay a tax for your tea king, like Hell I will...going to Wyoming to buy fireworks, and I could care less about the State of Colonial Colorado. Wyoming could use the same excuse as Colorado, do they? No. Did we the people vote for this law directly? No, the politicians found another way to our purse...again. For our own safety. Thank you to all the other states in this great nation that let the people celebrate the way we have for 2 centuries of freedom on independence day, fireworks are American. Colorado, oppress someone else for your financial gains, and quit telling me the lie it's for my own good. Government taxes everything they possibly can. Colorado can't stop Cinco De Mayo, maybe we as Americans can take lession from our spanish bothers, do they pull permits when they take over our streets to celebrate thier independece? Aren't there more serious matters for the servants of the people to attend to? Safety is thier excuse to tax the people, it's a good one, and Colorado knows how to capitalize on it! BANG BABY, ALL NIGHT LONG TILL THE DAWNS EARLY LIGHT AMERICA!

  • June 28, 2008

    7:29 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    KelcyCo writes:

    If fireworks users start a fire will they be prosecuted, sent to jail and then made to pay restitution? Precedence has been set after all. I fail to understand why anyone would be allowed to sell them, let alone use them when the fire season is upon us and we are in drought conditions. Even the sparklers if dropped on the grass will set off a fire. With the winds what they are anything smoldering can get out of control in a heartbeat.

  • June 28, 2008

    7:46 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    reddog writes:

    Yea Yea Yea, they say this every year and meanwhile fireworks are exploding all around the neighborhood. How about don't sell them in the first place?

  • June 28, 2008

    9:22 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    LOUIE writes:

    If Denver can give up the taxpayer's parks to 50,000+ protesters to destroy, maybe a compromise and they give up an entire day to patriots. One threatens to destroy in numbers gets respect, Those that outright take the streets over to celebrate thier hard fought battles in other countrys they get respect. An American wishing to lite firecrackers to celebrate the independence of this great nation, he gets to go to jail and pay the government he celebrates, maybe even his immediate family recently died for. No, take back the Fourth of July. Yes KelseyCo, if you hadn't noticed everybody pays in America, the lawyers rule if you hadn't noticed. Sue somebody, after all, it's now considered unAmerican not too. I guess if I want to really celebrate Independence day in America, I should be smart and change July 4th to May 5th; at least I will really be able to party. I like when others come to America with pride, government respects only what it can't control, the iron will of people in numbers, like 50,000 protesters trashing a park. All America should celebrate, if your scared, go hide. I love Cinco de Mayo, seems in Mexico I can watch a bullfight, but in America I can't even smoke a cigar as the well intentioned take this nation downhill. Believe me we all have paid, and will keep on paying till we stand up, why not the 4th of July, it's was a great day in world history. If my grandfather blew off fireworks on the fourth of July, like his grandfather before him, it's good enough for me. Sure they had fires then too, and I'm sure somebody paid. If this city can give a taxpayers park to people protesting our government, maybe they can buy insurance for those of us who love America to celebrate her. Only thing I see eye to eye with the protester on is America does need to change, the politicians can give back my country and go pratice thier law elsewhere. Glad the Supreme Court gave the good people back thier rights to own handguns to defend themselves in cities like New York, Chicago, D.C., San Francisco, etc., just took them 32 years to restore thier rights. Let those who served this nation, even in her darkest days, upon her battlefields, see this greatful nation of many peoples come together and lite the fuses of freedom; lets do it every year, just like we did as kids. Oh, please be a proud American, and lite the fuses with a Zippo, it's American, and garanteed for life, (they always rebuilt my Zippo's for free).

  • June 28, 2008

    9:31 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    LOUIE writes:

    reddog, ever make your own? I always perfered the Silver Salutes over the Cherrybombs and M-80's. In alaska they have Seal Bombs that really detonate big under water.

  • June 28, 2008

    7 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    LowryDem writes:

    Why is the church selling fireworks? What's next? Guns? Some kid is going to blow his hand off with fireworks that the church sells.

  • June 28, 2008

    8:06 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    scastaneda writes:

    Hey Louie,
    According to your definition of "freedom," then truly we are not free in America. We are also not "free" to drive 130 MPH, manufacture methamphetamine, fire pistols into the air or bonk each other on the heads with baseball bats.
    What a fascist nation we've become!

    And what kind of fireworks display charges admission? They'd have to set a half-mile perimeter, which I've certainly never seen at a 4th of July celebration. I think you're just ranting uncontrollably.

    and LowryDem...
    "Why is the church selling fireworks?"
    If you'd read the article, it clearly states the church is selling fireworks to raise funds to outfit missionaries.

    "What's next? Guns?" Drama much???

    "Some kid is going to blow his hand off..." Then you can delightfully say "see, I told you."

  • June 28, 2008

    11:56 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    LOUIE writes:

    So, by your reasoning scastaneda, we strip all the law abiding citizens of thier freedoms, which they have upheld for generations, for the irresponsibility of the criminals? After awhile you end up with so many laws, the good people lose respect for the law. Never should the freedoms of a just man, be sacrificed to pay the debt of the unjust man. Opium was legal at the turn of the century in America, why did we create laws to abolish it? Because of the irresponsible amongst us. Most of the laws we have today stripping the people are the direct result of the irresponsible. Murder, rape, drug abuse, DUI's, what crimes have these draconian laws done to restrict or stop these crimes? Instead we have a multibillion dollar industry just for the needs of the criminal; still have the crime though, nothings changed. America was safer in the generations past without these laws, why? I believe it was because most of America feared God. Today the government even taxes our sins, profits not a dirty word. This nation is heading downhill, and the only ones affected by these laws are the just who will obey them. Regardless of how many more police we hire, how many rights you wish to strip from the honest man, the crime of Cain and Abel will always be with you. This nation walked away from God long ago, do you like the results? This nation was truly great when it feared God...today, there is no God in minds and hearts of men, our nation is also falling from greatness. I can still buy opium on any street corner in America, even with your laws. Why don't I? I as a felon can still buy a firearm on any street corner in America regardless of your law, why don't I? I can cheat on my wife, why don't I? I can trash my country, why don't I? I can be an evil racist, why shouldn't I be? I can embrace any immorality or crime in America I desire, why don't I? When this great nation walked away from God, it signed it's own demise. I have done a lot of bad criminal acts, your laws didn't stop me, God did. I learned in the darkest holes you can place a man, the laws of God supercede all the wisdom he gave to man. Awhile back, in other articles, many criticized God for not stopping Katrina, or the recent floods. I wanted to ask how many of the victims of these unstoppable calamities found God afterwards; how many now bow thier heads realizing how powerless they were. They may have lost everything including loved ones, but they walk with Him now unless they are truly foolish. Seems you have to strip a man of all his worldly possesions, and when he has nothing left, he'll turn his heart back to God. Better I should lose it all, and I have, than to turn my heart away from God. But you keep creating "your" laws, if it makes you feel better.

  • June 29, 2008

    12:14 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    LOUIE writes:

    Soon America can outlaw God, it already started when they told us where we can pray and where we can't. "Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose..." Janis Joplin, how prophetic.

  • June 29, 2008

    8:02 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Existentalism writes:

    They say this every year and every year there is about 15 pounds of fireworks debris to be picked up in each and every city park.
    They are about as worthless at this as the police are at keeping the people of Denver safe.

  • June 29, 2008

    8:52 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    HOOK writes:

    Existentalism, let me guess, still mad at the Denver cops cause you still haven’t had your license reinstated from your last DUI? What a pathetic moronathon you live in, ummmmmmm, the story talks more about fire officials, and cops from other cities/counties than Denver, duhhhh. You make this too easy. But you couldn’t wait to bash the "Denver" cops, I would go on, but I'm sure you need to speed down to DPD headquarters for your scheduled/mandatory registration, for that little secret thing you are required to do every so and so...........

  • June 29, 2008

    12:59 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    JluvDC writes:

    Fireworks are fun! I stick to the legal kind and only do them when the city/county allows, but my kids and I enjoy them. There are some pretty creative fountains and smoke things these days with brilliant colors. I can't stand the big crowds at the big shows, too little parking and yucky bathrooms. The police in Parker do patrol, but we have friendly cops who have always been polite. I try to be done by midnight as to not annoy the neighbors. My only complaint is I would love if the manufacturers took the obnoxious whistles out of some of the fountains, no one wants to hear that!