RUMFORD — As private Fourth of July celebrations loom, Town Manager Carlo Puiia wants to remind residents that voters ratified a new Fireworks Ordinance on June 11.
Its provisions are now enforceable.
“It is very important for our residents and their guests to understand that the use and possession of ‘bottle rockets,’ as well as some other trajectory type fireworks, are illegal in the state of Maine and violators will be subject to the penalties outlined in Maine State Law,” Puiia said Monday in a news report.
The use of consumer fireworks is still allowable in Rumford, Puiia said.
However, the new ordinance — Chapter 21-D Consumer Fireworks Discharge and Possession Ordinance — contains the following regulations:
* Consumer fireworks shall not be ignited by any person under the age of 21.
* A person may use consumer fireworks only on that person’s property or on the property of a person who has consented — in writing — to the use of consumer fireworks on that property.
* Consumer fireworks shall have the same meaning as in 27 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 555.11 and do not include bottle rockets, sky rockets, missile-type rockets, helicopters and spinners, as defined by the State Fire Marshal by rule.
* Consumer fireworks shall not be ignited by any person under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
* Consumer fireworks shall not be ignited within 50 feet of any structure, overhead utilities or woodlands.
* All consumer fireworks users are required to have a means for extinguishing a fire readily accessible, including, but not limited to, a garden hose or a fire extinguisher.
* Consumer fireworks shall only be discharged between the hours of noon and 10 p.m., except on July 4, Dec. 31 and the weekends immediately before and after July 4 and Dec. 31, when they can be discharged between noon and 12:30 a.m.
* The use of consumer fireworks is only permissible on days when the fire danger day is Class 1 or Class 2. The use of consumer fireworks is strictly prohibited on Class 3, Class 4 and Class 5 fire-danger days or when a red flag warning as been issued by the Maine Forest Service, which can be contacted at 1-800-750-9777 or at www.maine.gov/doc/mfs/firedanger/fire.shtml.
As for penalties, the ordinance states that failure to comply with any provision of the ordinance shall result in:
* First offense: A written warning for a period of 24 hours.
* Second offense: A $300 fine and a prohibition on use of consumer fireworks by the user for a period of seven calendar days.
* Third offense: A $600 fine and a prohibition on use of consumer fireworks for 365 calendar days.
All consumer fireworks users shall be financially responsible for any and all expenses incurred by the town of Rumford and all mutual-aid response towns, for costs associated with the mitigation of any fire or emergency resulting from the misuse of consumer fireworks within the town of Rumford.
Puiia said Rumford’s Consumer Fireworks Ordinance is available for review on the town’s website at www.rumfordmaine.net or at the Rumford Municipal Building.
“On behalf of the town of Rumford, we want to wish all our citizens and their guests a safe and happy Fourth of July holiday. God bless America,” Puiia said.
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