Fireworks Rules and Safety | Video

Jessica Roose | 7/4/2012

While you`re out enjoying the festivities tonight it`s important to remember where you can and can`t light off fireworks. They are prohibited within Bismarck and a half mile of the city boarders.

In Mandan, the public can light off fireworks tonight until 2:00 a.m., with the exception of bottle rockets, which are banned. There is a $75 fine for violating the ordnance.

Morton County follows the same rules but does not allow the use of fireworks in County Parks or Game and Fish Wildlife Management Areas.

Burleigh County has no restrictions but Sheriff Pat Heinert says to use common sense and pay attention to where you light them off.

"Go to a safe spot. Don`t stop in the middle of the road and shoot them off. Try to find a place that you know somebody living there or someone who will let you use their yard."

Because of the risk of fire never light fireworks off near dry grass and always have a fire extinguisher or bucket of water nearby. Heinert say`s it`s especially important this year because of the hotter weather we`ve been having.

"A lot of people go down along the river bottoms thinking that`s a good spot. This year especially with the heat wave we`ve had the last few days here, the state has said we`re right now at a forty percent dry rate. So we`ve got a lot of areas that are drying up fast. We just ask people to look around when you`re in areas."

State law allows fireworks to be sold until July 5th.

If you don`t want to light off your own, you are encouraged to attend public displays at the state capitol in Bismarck or at the rodeo in Mandan.

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