Illegal fireworks use in the neighborhood?

Fireworks are a staple of Independence Day celebrations for many citizens throughout the United States but are also a scourge to the peace and quiet to many others. Every year around the 4th of July there are floods of social media posts and phone calls to various government agencies with complaints, concerns, and requests for information. Hopefully, this will answer most of those questions.

First, know the law. Fireworks are legal within the City of Houston year-round on private property with that property owner’s permission. The property owner does not have to be present, but express consent must be obtained. Other than a few hours around the New Year holiday, fireworks are not legal anywhere else in the Mat-Su Borough – including on July 4. Fireworks use is an ordinance violation with the City of Palmer, City of Wasilla, and Mat-Su Borough. Exceptions exist, of course, for licensed shows that are coordinated with the local government as well as the State of Alaska Fire Marshal’s Office.

Fireworks must be safely used. When you are on that private property in Houston and are going to use fireworks, follow the guidelines on the packaging. It will always including important requirements such as not holding the firework under any circumstances, pointing them away from crowds, never shooting them at each other, and never leave the burned out shells behind: they can smolder for quite some time and ignite in fire. There must be a sober and awake adult supervising the use of fireworks. Most importantly, do not ever modify a commercial fireworks just because you saw a neat trick on TikTok or want to become YouTube famous. People are seriously injured every holiday nationwide from failing to follow manufacturer guidelines.

But now someone has used fireworks outside of Houston or in Houston during quiet hours; what do you do? You contact the local authorities. Do not call state agents. Alaska State Troopers have no authority or jurisdiction to enforce local ordinances that are not supported by state statutes. There are no state laws against the use of fireworks, so calling 9-1-1 or Alaska State Troopers directly will not illicit a response. Do not call the fire department unless it is a fire or to report an emergency – firefighters have no authority to tell people they cannot use fireworks.

Do you talk with your neighbors? Starting a friendly conversation with your neighbors about your concerns is the best method. Approach them calmly and respectfully, expressing your worries about the unsafe use of fireworks. It is best if you can share concerns before the holiday so that you are not approaching someone in the dark of the evening on their own property and risking a hostile confrontation. Often, simply having a respectful relationship with your neighbors will lead them to working with you.

Enforcement of local ordinances lies in code compliance divisions. Inside the cities of Wasilla and Palmer which have their own police departments, you can contact the non-emergency numbers to report illegal use of fireworks but those calls will be triaged below emergencies and reports of crimes. Remember that illegal use of fireworks is classified as an “offense” and not a crime normally, and police officers need to remain available for emergencies. Instead, document what is happening and report it to your local code enforcement or code compliance department the following day. All three cities and the Borough have code enforcement divisions.

When you file a report, provide evidence of the offense. Video recordings of the fireworks are best, especially if it catches the property (or vehicle) that the fireworks came from. Send this information to the email address for the code compliance office. Code compliance can follow up with property owners and investigate the illegal use of fireworks. That does not mean that they necessarily will fine them if they cannot determine who used what, where, and when, but at the minimum it puts the property on the office’s radar and provides information to the local authority about the number of violations. Code enforcement does not respond to calls 24/7 because, again, it is not an emergency to use fireworks; but they can follow up afterward.

But what if you want to shoot off some fireworks this holiday? Go to Houston. As mentioned, it is the only place in the Mat-Su where it’s legal to shoot off. If you don’t know any property owners, ask at the fireworks stands about any properties where the owners have authorized use. Keep yourself legal and safe. If will be using fireworks, keep the neighbors and their pets in mind. Nobody wants to be awakened at 2:00am to the sound of fireworks or gunfire, especially our veterans and survivors of active shooter situations. Even Houston has quiet hours (10 p.m. – 7 a.m. normally, except 1 a.m.-7 a.m. from July 1 to July 7) that must be respected.

Christian M. Hartley is a 40-year Alaskan resident with over 25 years of public safety experience and public service. He runs a freelance business, Big Lake Writer, from home in Big Lake that he shares with his wife of 19 years and their three teenage sons.