BOZEMAN – There are only a couple of holidays in Montana throughout the year when citizens are allowed to light fireworks: the Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve.
Even though firework shops have been popping up all around Bozeman, residents are not allowed to use them yet. According to the City Communications Coordinator Melody Mileur, fireworks can only be set off on July 3rd and 5th from Noon to 12 a.m., July 4th from Noon to 1 a.m., and there are restrictions.
"We are not here to stop people from having fun; it’s the complete opposite. We want people to have fun, we want them to enjoy the holiday. I mean especially the 4th of July, right? It’s a great holiday to celebrate. Safety is huge, especially when it comes to people lighting off fireworks,” said Bozeman Police Sergeant Hal Richardson.
Bozeman’s municipal code states what kind of fireworks are permitted for use:
- Fireworks go no higher than 15 feet and not designed to explode
- Sparklers under 12 inches in length
- Wheels with up to 6 “driver” units or tubes
These types of fireworks can be set off on private property, such as a driveway, as long as the person lighting them has permission. They are not, however, allowed on major arterial streets or alleys, within 300 feet of any public park, within 1000 feet of any hospital, nursing or assisted living facility, under or upon a motor vehicle (moving or still), or within 300 feet of any gas station.
“Yeah when it comes to especially the ones that get launched into the air, you never know when they are going to land and you don’t want to set somebody else’s property on fire,” said Richardson.
"Every firework is intended to operate a certain way but we all have seen ones that don’t, so you want to be prepared in case it lands someplace you don’t intend it to and starts a fire. You want to be able to rapidly extinguish it," added Bozeman Fire Chief Josh Waldo.
Fines for setting off fireworks illegally within Bozeman range from $100 – $500.
