Cloudy early, then thunderstorms developing this afternoon. High 81F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%..
Showers and thundershowers this evening will give way to steady rain overnight. Low 61F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%. Locally heavy rainfall possible.
Along with fireworks, the City of Plattsburgh offered warnings about sparklers. Sparklers burn at about 2,000 degrees – hot enough to melt some metals. Sparklers can quickly ignite clothing, and children have received severe burns from dropping sparklers on their feet.
Along with fireworks, the City of Plattsburgh offered warnings about sparklers. Sparklers burn at about 2,000 degrees – hot enough to melt some metals. Sparklers can quickly ignite clothing, and children have received severe burns from dropping sparklers on their feet.
PLATTSBURGH — The City of Plattsburgh is reminding residents to follow state guidelines for handling fireworks this summer.
NEW YORK STATE GUIDELINES ON THE USE OF FIREWORKS
New York state bans all fireworks unless being used or possessed under a Display Fireworks permit. For regulatory purposes, the law distinguishes between fireworks and dangerous fireworks.
“Fireworks” include firecrackers, sparklers or other similarly constructed combustible or explosive items.
“Dangerous fireworks” are fireworks capable of causing serious physical injury and include:
• Firecrackers containing more than 50 milligrams of an explosive substance
• Torpedoes, skyrockets, and rockets, including all devices that employ any combustible or explosive substance and rise in the air during discharge
• Sparklers longer than 10 inches or bigger than 1/4 inch
• Chasers, including all devices that dart or travel about the surface of the ground during discharge.
Anyone displaying fireworks must obtain a permit from the City of Plattsburgh, which can be found on the City’s website. Anyone firing the display must be at least age 18 years old and hold a valid certificate of competency as a pyrotechnician. All required paperwork and requirements are listed on the city’s website.
Illegally selling fireworks or dangerous fireworks is a class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to 90 days in jail, a fine, or both.
If the value of the fireworks sold exceeds $500 or more or the sale is to a minor, the penalty becomes a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail, a fine, or both. Penalties and fines increase with previous convictions for this crime. The provisions do not apply to, among others, anyone with a permit to use high explosives for blasting or signaling; state and federal governments; and sales out of state.
Anyone who possesses, uses, explodes, or causes to explode any fireworks or dangerous fireworks without a permit commits a violation, punishable by up to 15 days in jail, a fine, or both. Possession of fireworks or dangerous fireworks valued at $50 or more gives rise to the presumption that such fireworks were intended to be offered for sale.
Fireworks start an average of 18,500 fires each year, including 1,300 structure fires, 300 vehicle fires and nearly 17,000 other fires.
Those who choose to use legal fireworks should follow these tips:
• Never allow young children to handle fireworks
• Older children should use them only under close adult supervision
• Never use fireworks while impaired by drugs or alcohol
• Anyone using fireworks or standing nearby should wear protective eyewear
• Never hold lighted fireworks in your hands
• Only use them away from people, houses and flammable material
• Never point or throw fireworks at another person
• Only light one device at a time and maintain a safe distance after lighting
• Never ignite devices in a container
• Do not try to re-light or handle malfunctioning fireworks
• Soak both spent and unused fireworks in water for a few hours before discarding
• Keep a bucket of water nearby to fully extinguish fireworks that don’t go off or in case of a fire
Those who choose to use legal fireworks, be a good neighbor and be considerate of when and where you are using legal fireworks. Obey City noise ordinances. The City of Plattsburgh Police receive higher volumes of calls reporting gun fire when people are actually using fireworks.
Sparklers burn at about 2,000 degrees – hot enough to melt some metals. Sparklers can quickly ignite clothing, and children have received severe burns from dropping sparklers on their feet. According to the National Fire Protection Association, sparklers alone account for more than 25% of emergency room visits for fireworks injuries. For children under 5 years of age, sparklers accounted for nearly half of the total estimated injuries.
Safer alternatives, such as glow sticks, confetti poppers or colored streamers are recommended.
Mayor Chris Rosenquest said there had been concerns raised about firework usage lately — prompting this detailed reminder to residents.
“It was a concern that came out from a couple of councilors that expressed their concern for fireworks that were being used in the city outside of a reasonable window around Fourth of July,” he said.
“New York state already has a number of pretty significant laws in terms of firework usage and we just figured, rather than reinventing the wheel in the City of Plattsburgh, meaning rather than creating our own laws, we could help educate the public on the existing laws and really find a path for the city to enforce the laws that are already on the books.”
— Staff Writer Carly Newton contributed to this report
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