TRI-CITIES — Those planning to ring in the New Year with fireworks need to take care where they discharge them.
State law allows for fireworks to be sold between Dec. 28 and Jan. 1. However, Nebraska leaves it up to local municipalities to be more restrictive.
The Tri-Cities – Kearney, Grand Island and Hastings do not permit fireworks to be discharged within their city limits during the New Years holiday.
None of the communities have an ordinance on the books that allows for the discharge of fireworks outside of the July 4 holiday.
The National Safety Council of Nebraska (NSCN) states that consumer fireworks can be discharged from Dec. 29 to Dec. 31, 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. On Dec. 31, they can be discharged from 8 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.
“Consumer fireworks may only be possessed, used or discharged by a person 16 years of age or older; provided, that a person 12 years of age or older and less than 16 years of age may possess, use or discharge consumer fireworks, but only when in the immediate presence of and under the direct supervision of an adult 19 years of age or older,” per the NSCN.
Just as with the July 4 holiday, residents should take caution when discharging fireworks.
Of the nine U.S. deaths, six were associated with firework misuse, one death was associated with a mortar launch malfunction, and two incidents were associated with unknown circumstances.
There were an estimated 11,500 emergency room-treated injuries involving fireworks in 2021.
About 32 percent of the emergency department-treated fireworks-related injuries in 2021 were for burns.
