Milton Reminds Residents About Fireworks Usage

MILTON, GA — For many residents, New Year's Eve celebrations will include fireworks. Milton's public safety officials want to remind residents to practice fire safety and follow state and local regulations for fireworks and noise.

If you plan to use fireworks, and your home is located near a horse or other large animal farm, please take a moment to stop by your neighbor's home to share your fireworks plan. Large animal owners can better prepare, and ensure the safety of their animals and the public when they have advance notice.

A large animal breaking through an enclosure is dangerous to the animal and the public. While there's no doubt that a fireworks display can be exciting for many people, fireworks can be less enjoyable for both large and small animals and even some veterans.

Fireworks cause thousands of hand and eye injuries annually, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

"If your holiday festivities include consumer fireworks, be very careful with them and always be fire-aware and courteous of your neighbors," said Milton Fire Chief Robert Edgar.

Important safety tips from the Milton Fire-Rescue Department:

• Never allow young children to use fireworks, keep a safe distance, and always provide adult supervision
• Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have failed to ignite
• Keep a bucket of water or garden hose nearby at all times
• Used fireworks should be watered down and stored away from the house or any flammable structures/materials after the festivities end

Read these safety tips from the Consumer Product Safety Commission if using fireworks over the holiday.

Fireworks are legal in the state of Georgia and permitted on Dec. 31 from 10 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. and on Jan. 1 from midnight to 1 a.m. However, there are some restrictions on their usage.

• You cannot use fireworks in/on a public road.
• You also cannot use fireworks within 100 yards of a(n): gas station, fuel tank or other retail/storage facility with flammable or combustible liquids; an electric substation, water treatment plan, or waste-water treatment facility; a hospital, nursing home, or other health care facility; or any public use air facility.
• Within any county or city park, historic site, recreational area, or other property, unless the county or city has granted a special use permit.
• While under the influence of alcohol or any drug to the extent that it is unsafe to use consumer fireworks.

The Milton Police Department is authorized to enforce these regulations in the interest of public safety. At the conclusion of state-regulated hours for the holiday, Milton's local noise ordinance takes effect. State law indicates that non-holiday hours permit use of fireworks between 10 a.m. and 11:55 p.m. unless during those times fireworks use does not comply with the local noise ordinance. Read Milton's noise ordinance here.

For a fire-related emergency or noise disturbances occurring outside the state-regulated holiday hours, please call 911.

For more information on fireworks or for any non-emergency fire and safety related concern, please contact the Milton Fire-Rescue Department at 678-242-2541 during normal business hours or by email at fire.marshal@cityofmiltonga.us.

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