Palmer allows fireworks for New Year'€™s Eve

PALMER — Expect this new year to start with more of a bang, as a change to a city law that allows Palmer residents to have private firework displays for one

night during a seven-hour window.

The city’s ban on setting off fireworks will be lifted at 6 p.m., Thursday and last until 1 a.m. on Friday, with certain restrictions applied.

The idea behind the change, which was passed by the city council in October, was to better use city police resources during the New Year

celebration, Councilman Richard Best said. Best, one of the council members to propose the change, said police are better used cracking down

on drunk drivers and responding to traffic accidents that night, rather than writing citations for fireworks.

“To me, it was mostly just a common sense type thing,” Best said. “We’re not allowing anything elaborate. But for those kinds of celebrations using

small fireworks, I don’t want them to be illegal.”

The only type of fireworks allowed during the seven-hour period is the consumer Class C fireworks. As the sale of fireworks is still prohibited in Palmer, most amateur pyrotechnicians will make the drive to one of the four vendors in Houston.

Robert Hall, the owner of Gorilla Fireworks, said his shops sell nothing but Class C fireworks, so anything bought there should be allowed under the new law.

In addition to the type, the rule change also imposes regulations on where the fireworks can be set off. Private displays can only be done on private

property with the owner’s consent and with an adult 21 years or older supervising.

Fireworks cannot be set off from a vehicle or building. Also, buffer must be maintained between fireworks and certain objects as follows:

• 500 feet from any automotive service station or any place where flammable liquids or gases are stored.

• 250 feet from any health care or assisted living facility, library, school or place of worship.

• 50 feet from any waterway inside city limits.

Additionally, no fireworks are allowed when the city or Division of Forestry has imposed a burn ban.

“There are safety nets built into it. We can pull it back at anytime,” Best said.

The rule change mirrors one passed by the Wasilla City Council in 2007.

Best said he contacted the Wasilla police about fireworks-related accidents in and around the city since the time of the change. The numbers were low, he said.

The ordinance change passed the Palmer City Council with a unanimous vote.

Contact Todd L. Disher at todd.disher@frontiersman.com or 352-2252.