6 Stark County communities ban fireworks. See which ones

A few more Stark County communities have opted to prohibit people from setting off personal fireworks, joining some others that either ban or restrict fireworks.

A state law that took effect last year allows folks to set off fireworks on their own property or another's property with permission on designated holidays, such as the upcoming Fourth of July. But the state also permits communities to set some restrictions, or opt out by a vote of council. For instance, communities can decide not to allow fireworks. Or they can restrict them to certain hours or days.

Unlike last year's Fourth of July holiday, Louisville, Brewster, Hartville and Navarre have opted out, meaning people cannot legally use fireworks there, according to a Canton Repository survey. They join Hills and Dales and Minerva, which also banned fireworks last year. Meanwhile, Jackson and Perry Townships restrict the hours.

City and village officials say they do not recall any recent fires or accidents in their communities due to fireworks use. Nor could they remember anyone in their town ever being charged with illegally setting off fireworks.

But while many people flout fireworks restrictions, the communities would rather have ordinances on their books generally banning fireworks use in hopes of reducing the chance of a fire or someone being injured. All of the officials interviewed said as far as they were aware no residents within their borders took a position on the municipalities approving a new ban on fireworks or keeping a prior ordinance that banned general fireworks use.

Under the state law, people can shoot off fireworks from 4 to 11 p.m. July 3, 4, and 5, and the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday immediately before and after July 4.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, fireworks were involved in more than 11,500 injuries in 2021. And injuries jumped 25% between 2006 and 2021, with nearly half of them being to bystanders, the Division of State Fire Marshal said.

Fireworks have caused 163 fires in Ohio since 2022, with 33 of those incidents resulting in building fires totaling nearly $750,000 in damages, according to the State Fire Marshal’s Fire Prevention Bureau.

Hartville Mayor Cindy Billings weighs in on local fireworks

Hartville Mayor Cindy Billings said her village's council approved an ordinance last October generally banning fireworks use.

“The houses especially in a lot of different cities they're so close together, there’s too much of a chance of there being some problems. Fire or something like that," she said. "We haven’t had any problems. But maybe that’s why we haven’t had any. Because they weren't allowed.”

Mike Miller, the administrator for Brewster, said the village already had an ordinance on its books dating back to 1930 that banned anyone in the village from setting off fireworks. He said the village's solicitor, John Anthony, advised that it wasn't necessary for council to take any action to keep the ban even though the state's ban ended.

No council member or resident has discussed removing the ban as far as he is aware, Miller said.

The ordinance, which is more than 92 years old, does allow Brewster's mayor to issue a permit for fireworks if an organization submits an application and the mayor is satisfied that the fireworks show would be properly supervised and not detrimental to the public welfare.

Louisville Fire Capt. Rob Yoder: 'It's a safety risk. It's a health risk.'

Louisville Mayor Pat Fallot said her city's council unanimously approved an ordinance on June 20 generally banning fireworks in the city due to concerns about the fire risks.

Louisville Fire Capt. Rob Yoder, the head of the city's fire prevention bureau, said a violation of the new ordinance is a first-degree misdemeanor punishable up to six months in jail or up to a $1,000 fine.

“It’s a safety risk. It’s a health risk. Everybody likes their fireworks but people do a lot of stupid things with fireworks," Yoder said. "That’s how people end up having fires, losing fingers, losing hearing, having eye injuries."

He recalled fireworks a couple of decades ago causing a fire in a garage. Firefighters were able to save the garage from destruction.

Navarre Council President Josh Smith said unlike Brewster, Navarre didn't have any of its own ordinances on its books prohibiting fireworks. So after the state eliminated much of its ban, Navarre council unanimously approved the village's own ban.

Smith said council members noted that the village had a lot of older buildings in close proximity to one another making the village more vulnerable to the risk of a fire.

Similarly, Hills and Dales council, concerned about the noise, fire risks and injury risks, unanimously on June 8, 2022, approved an ordinance to ban fireworks with the state ban no longer covering several holiday period, said Hills and Dales Police Chief Brian Zeno.

He said a violation is a minor misdemeanor in the village, which has a population of about 250. The maximum fine is $100 with court costs. Zeno didn't recall anyone ever being charged for violating the state fireworks ban except possibly getting warnings from police. But he said Hills and Dales residents normally don't set off fireworks.

"Some of the homes a lot of them are older going back to the 1920s," said Zeno. "It doesn't take much for them to ignite.”

On what holidays can Ohioans use fireworks to celebrate?

Fireworks can be set off only on selected days of the year, as authorized by the state. They are:

• New Year’s Eve

• New Year's Day

• Chinese New Year

• Cinco de Mayo

• Memorial Day weekend

• Juneteenth

• July 3, 4, and 5, and the Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays before and after

• Labor Day weekend

• Diwali

What fireworks are legal and illegal in Ohio?

Casual fireworks permitted for discharge in Ohio can be purchased at a local retailer, such as Phantom Fireworks, Wholesale Fireworks and Discount Fireworks, which are in Stark County. They include bottle rockets, firecrackers, Roman candles and repeaters — or those that are lit once and fire multiple rounds.

Fireworks that are illegal in Ohio include M-80 cherry bombs, M-100 ash cans, M-250 quarter sticks and M-1000 half sticks.

Everything classified as "trick fireworks," such as smoke bombs, snakes and sparklers, are free to use anytime and can be purchased at retail shops, gas stations and grocery stores.

Includes reporting by the Columbus Dispatch.

Reach Robert at robert.wang@cantonrep.com. Twitter: @rwangREP.

Where do Stark County communities stand on fireworks?

Stark cities

• Alliance: No restrictions beyond state law.

• Canal Fulton: No restrictions beyond state law.

• Canton: No restrictions beyond state law.

• Louisville: No fireworks permitted.

• Massillon: No restrictions beyond state law

• North Canton: No restrictions beyond state law.

Stark townships

• Bethlehem Township: No restrictions beyond state law.

• Canton Township: No restrictions beyond state law.

• Jackson Township: 4 to 11 p.m. on the third, fourth and fifth days of July, and 4 to 11 p.m. on the first Fridays Saturdays and Sundays before and after the fourth day of July.

• Lake Township: No restrictions beyond state law.

• Lawrence Township: No restrictions beyond state law.

• Lexington Township: No restrictions beyond state law.

• Marlboro Township: No restrictions beyond state law.

• Nimishillen Township: No restrictions beyond state law.

• Osnaburg Township: No restrictions beyond state law.

• Paris Township: No restrictions beyond state law.

• Perry Township: Restricted to 8 to 11 p.m. on the Fourth of July, and other holidays as specified in the township’s fireworks resolution at https://www.perrytwp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Fireworks-Resolution.pdf.

• Pike Township: No restrictions beyond state law.

• Plain Township: No restrictions beyond state law.

• Sugar Creek Township: No restrictions beyond state law.

• Tuscarawas Township: No restrictions beyond state law.

• Washington Township: No restrictions beyond state law.

Stark villages

• Beach City: No restrictions beyond state law.

• Brewster: No fireworks permitted.

• East Canton: No restrictions beyond state law.

• East Sparta: No restrictions beyond state law.

• Hartville: No fireworks permitted.

• Hills and Dales: No fireworks permitted.

• Magnolia: No restrictions beyond state law.

• Meyers Lake: No restrictions beyond state law.

• Minerva: No fireworks permitted.

• Navarre: No fireworks permitted. “No person shall discharge, ignite or explode any 1.4G fireworks in the village at any time.” (1.4G fireworks are consumer fireworks intended for use by the general public.)

• Waynesburg: No restrictions beyond state law.

• Wilmot: No restrictions beyond state law.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Which Stark County communities ban or allow fireworks?