Fourth of July can be costly for those caught lighting fireworks

MAT-SU — Those wanting to show their patriotic spirits through fireworks have limited options in the Mat-Su Borough this holiday weekend.

If the draw is to ooh and ah over spectacular explosions of sound and color, then don’t miss Wasilla’s annual community fireworks display at 11, tonight near Wonderland Park. It’s the only professional fireworks display in the Valley.

If you’re into firing off your own pyrotechnics, the options are limited to the city of Houston. That city is the only place in Southcentral where the sale of fireworks is legal and the only place in the Valley where it’s legal to ignite them. The Mat-Su Borough and cities of Palmer and Wasilla all prohibit setting off fireworks.

And for those who are caught sparking their own personal displays, the costs can add up. In Palmer, setting off fireworks is punishable by a citation and $85 fine. In Wasilla, the fine is $100, plus a $10 surcharge. For those in unincorporated areas, the borough says those caught face up to a $500 fine.

Still, the threat of fines often doesn’t deter many from purchasing and setting off personal fireworks, said Pamela Ness, the borough’s code compliance officer.

“Actually, we don’t usually get that many calls,” she said about Fourth of July fireworks reports. “Usually we get some complaints after the Fourth of July weekend. We do get a few calls, but depending on where they’re at, it’s hard to find them.”

Although difficult to enforce, there’s good reason for the law restricting personal fireworks use, Ness said.

“It’s the fire danger,” she said. “It’s a pretty simple reason, really.”

That’s the same reason the cities of Wasilla and Palmer don’t allow them either, said John Owen, public safety director for Palmer.

“The reason is when we considered the whole fireworks ordinance a couple years ago was it was deemed to be unsafe to allow fireworks in the city limits because of the potential hazard for structure fires,” he said.

That doesn’t mean residents of those cities have no legal use for the fireworks they purchase in Houston.

“Palmer has the one exception for New Year’s, and our code’s very clear that fireworks sales or discharge are allowed during a four-hour period at New Year’s,” Owen said.

While the restrictions may be a hassle for some, fireworks are big business for the city of Houston, said Mayor Virgie Thompson, where it’s legal to sell and ignite them.

“I know we’re the only place in this whole area where you can sell or set them off,” she said, adding the sales tax collected on fireworks helps to fund the city’s general budget and fire department.

“The Fourth is important to us,” Thompson said. “(Gorilla Fireworks owner) Bob Hall pays 4 percent sales tax, and 2 percent of that goes to public safety. It really helps public safety and allows the department to buy things they normally wouldn’t be able to do.”

Contact Greg Johnson at greg.johnson@frontiersman.com or 352-2269.