Fireworks Safety Reminders & Wisconsin Law

Each July 4th, thousands of people, most often children and teens, are injured while using consumer fireworks. Despite the dangers of fireworks, few people understand the associated risks - devastating burns, other injuries, fires, and even death.

Fireworks by the numbers:

• Fireworks start an average of 18,500 fires per year, including 1,300 structure fires, 300 vehicle fires, and 16,900 outside and other fires. These fires caused an average of three deaths, 40 civilian injuries, and an average of $43 million in direct property damage.   

• In 2017, U.S. hospital emergency rooms treated an estimated 12,900 people for fireworks related injuries; 54% of those injuries were to the extremities and 36% were to the head. Children younger than 15 years of age accounted for more than one-third (36%) of the estimated 2017 injuries. These injury estimates were obtained or derived from the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s 2015 Fireworks Annual Report by Yongling Tu. 

---

Despite what you've been told from some vendors in our area, under state law, fireworks are illegal to possess and use without a valid permit from the local municipality for which you are planning to use or display the fireworks!  According to Wisconsin State Statutes, 167.10(3)(a) No person may possess or use fireworks without a user's permit from the mayor of the city, president of the village or chairperson of the town in which the possession or use is to occur or from a person designated by the mayor, president or chairperson to issue a user's permit. 

Fireworks may only be used within the Town of Greenville by individuals who have been properly issued a permit from the Town (see Town Code Chapter 150). You cannot purchase a permit to possess or display fireworks from a vendor.  Permit application forms are available from the Town's website.

Under Wisconsin State Statutes, certain novelties are not considered “fireworks” and anyone can use or possess them. No permit is required.  Those objects include “sparklers” that don’t exceed 36 inches in length, smoke bombs, confetti sprayers, “novelty devices that spin or move on the ground,” and a few other objects, such as “caps” and “snaps” with minimal amounts of explosive mixture.

Citations up to $1,000 may be issued for individuals who violate the law!