Benjamin Bullard

bbullard@cullmantimes.com

For those whose New Year’s celebration just isn’t complete without fireworks, it pays to know where they can — or can’t — be discharged throughout Cullman County.

Local laws regulating the use of fireworks vary.

Throughout unincorporated Cullman County, businesses may sell fireworks, and people may shoot them. That also applies at Good Hope, which does not have an ordinance regulating the sale and use of fireworks.

Hanceville allows the shooting of fireworks only at New Year’s and on July 4th. According to Hanceville’s fireworks ordinance, residents have between 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 a.m. Sunday to use fireworks while remaining on the right side of the law.

Hanceville places further restrictions on where fireworks can be discharged, limiting their enjoyment largely to private property. Shooting fireworks is illegal on public property, as well as on playgrounds, at parks, churches, schools and parking lots.

Bottle rockets and thrown incendiary devices aren’t allowed in Hanceville at any time.

In the City of Cullman, things are much simpler: both the sale and the shooting of fireworks is illegal.

The Alabama State Fire Marshal’s Office urged “extreme caution when using any item that could potentially start a fire,” it said in a press release, “especially while the state is experiencing dangerous drought conditions.”

The fire marshal also recommended a handful of general safety guidelines when discharging fireworks, including:

– Keep water and first aid nearby.

– Never attempt to alter or combine fireworks.

– Children should never play with fireworks without adult supervision.

– Never throw fireworks from a moving vehicle or to throw or point fireworks at another person, object or animal. 

– Always be sure your fireworks are legal and purchased from a reputable dealer who’s inspected and permitted by the Alabama State Fire Marshal’s Office.

 

Benjamin Bullard can be reached by phone at 256-734-2131 ext. 145.