The final fireworks sales season of the year kicked off this week, so the State Fire Marshal’s Office wants to encourage all Louisiana residents to not only be safe when using fireworks, but knowledgeable when buying them.
More than 500 retail fireworks permits have been issued for this end-of-the-year season, as it is state law for wholesale and retail fireworks business operators to be appropriately licensed by the state in the parishes and municipalities where they are legally allowed. The sales season extends through 11:59 p.m. on January 1.
The State Fire Marshal encourages, first and foremost, that families choose to enjoy public fireworks displays over creating their own. However, if purchasing fireworks is your preference, they advise families to be mindful of whether the stand they are purchasing from has been permitted by their office.
You can request to see permitting information from any retail fireworks business you patron. The SFM encourages reporting any suspicious or illegal sales of fireworks to 1-800-256-5452 or by visiting their website, lasfm.org.
In addition, fire officials want everyone to enjoy fireworks in the safest way possible.
Some of the top ways to do that are:
• Detonating devices at least 200 feet away from structures, vehicles and rubbish
• Never allowing children to light fireworks
• Never operating fireworks while impaired
• Lighting devices one at a time and monitoring embers released with a bucket of water or hose nearby
• Discarding detonated items by wetting them down to prevent reignition and not disposing of them in a trash container immediately
