Lawmakers give preliminary approval to bill to allow some fireworks

With BC-CNS-Fireworks Bill-Box

By CAROLINA MADRID
Cronkite News Service

PHOENIX (Thursday, March 26) _ The state House gave preliminary approval Thursday to a bill that would allow Arizonans to celebrate by lighting sparklers and other fireworks that don’t shoot into the air or explode.

HB 2258, sponsored by Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Gilbert, has drawn concern from a firefighters group that contends the devices are unsafe for children and could spark wildfires.

Mike Williams, a lobbyist for the U.S. Fireworks Safety Council, a group advocating for manufacturers, noted that California, New Mexico and Nevada allow the types of fireworks that would be legal under the bill.

“The reality is that the (fireworks) that would be allowed aren’t the ones accountable for those big fires,” Williams said in a telephone interview.

The list of fireworks that would be allowed also includes illuminating torches, ground spinners and toy smoke devices.

A floor amendment supported by Biggs would allow cities and towns to restrict use of the fireworks. Rep. Lucy Mason, R-Prescott, said her amendment would give local governments flexibility when they face the danger of wildfire.

David Johnson, intergovernmental affairs analyst for the town of Buckeye, said that was a big reason why he initially opposed the bill.

“The risk of fire is different in different areas of our community,” Johnson said in a telephone interview. “We just would rather the Legislature allow us to make those types of decisions.”

Meeting as the Committee of the Whole, House members approved another floor amendment, offered by Rep. Laurin Hendrix, R-Gilbert, that would prohibit sales of the fireworks to those under 16.

Rep. Tom Chabin, D-Flagstaff, said he also wants counties to be able to regulate use of the fireworks in unincorporated areas, citing Munds Park and Kachina Village as unincorporated areas facing fire danger.

“Our environment is fragile outside of the incorporated areas,” Chabin said. “The slightest spark could cause a catastrophic fire, and we’ve seen it happen in the past.”

Biggs said allowing counties to regulate the fireworks would undercut the legislation’s intent.

“At some point you eliminate the effectiveness of the bill,” Biggs said.

Sandy Bahr, conservation director for the Sierra Club’s Grand Canyon Chapter, said she opposes the bill because the devices it would allow pose a fire danger.

“Most of our fires are caused by people already, so we don’t need to add to that,” Bahr said in a telephone interview.

Thursday’s approval sets up a final House vote that would send the bill to the Senate.