Here’s the deal on Broken Arrow’s fireworks rules

By John Dobberstein, Editor

Yes, there is no longer a permit or fee required to discharge fireworks in Broken Arrow. But that doesn’t mean there are no rules at all, as police and firefighters will gladly remind you.

The Broken Arrow City Council, in response to feedback from Broken Arrow residents, voted last month to amend the Fire Prevention and Protection Ordinance to eliminate the requirement for a permit and a fee to discharge fireworks.

But there are regulations that need to be followed:

• Setting off fireworks is only legal July 3-4 between 3 p.m. and 11 p.m.
• Fireworks must be discharged on a noncombustible surface of sufficient size to contain the entire ground portion of the display and not closer than 25 feet to any permanent structure.
• Private people may not discharge fireworks within any city or county park, on any highway, turnpike or on any arterial street, or collector street that has paving in excess of 26 feet wide.
• You must clean up all your debris on the day the fireworks are discharged. The city asks people to be respectful of neighborhoods and clean debris in the street. Failure to do so may result in fines of $225 plus costs.
• Fireworks debris must be extinguished and disposed of properly. Fireworks should be placed in a bucket of water for at least an hour before by placing inside trash bags. Loose trash will not be picked up.
• Possession of any fireworks by any individual under the age of twelve (12) shall be unlawful within the city unless under the immediate and direct supervision of a parent, guardian or other responsible adult.
• Any use of fireworks in violation of city ordinances shall be punishable by a fine of $274/499/549 plus court cost. Any use of fireworks between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. shall be punishable upon conviction by a fine that is double the fine normally imposed for a violation of this section.

Safety recommendations

• It is recommended to put any fireworks that fail to discharge into a bucket of water before putting them into the trash for disposal.
• It is recommended to have an ABC type fire extinguisher present in the event of an accidental fire.