Sheriff stays neutral on fireworks ordinance

St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert has remained neutral on the parish council’s recent decision to allow the sale and use of fireworks in unincorporated areas of the parish, Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Traci Landry said.
“What the law says is what we’re going to go with, what we’re going to enforce,” Landry said.
“He (Hebert) has faith in the parents, who will allow their kids to participate in those types of activities, that they will do so safely,” Landry said.
On Wednesday, the St. Mary Parish council approved amending an ordinance, which prohibits using or selling fireworks, to allow fireworks to be sold and used around the Fourth of July and New Year’s holidays. The council passed the amendments by a vote of 7-3, and Parish President David Hanagriff was also in favor of the changes, The Franklin Banner-Tribune reported.
The changes only apply to the unincorporated areas of the parish. Morgan City, Berwick and Patterson have ordinances banning the use and sale of fireworks at all times.
The sheriff’s office will police the use of fireworks during times that the parish ordinance doesn’t permit fireworks use, Landry said.
Under the ordinance changes, the retail sale of fireworks will be allowed from noon June 25 until 10 p.m. July 5 and from noon Dec. 15 until 10 p.m. Jan. 1. The changes also allow fireworks to be set off or shot from June 25 to July 5 and from Dec. 15 to Jan. 1 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 10 p.m.
Additional use of fireworks will be allowed from 10 p.m. July 4 until 1 a.m. July 5, from 10 p.m. Dec. 24 until 1 a.m. Dec. 25, and from 10 p.m. Dec. 31 until 1 a.m. Jan. 1.
Morgan City Fire Chief Alvin Cockerham advises people to be careful handling fireworks at the time of year when firework use is allowed in unincorporated St. Mary Parish.
People should use caution when handling fireworks after lighting them and avoid using fireworks around grass, especially dry grass, Cockerham said. Parents should never let young kids use fireworks, he said.
Using common sense is the most important thing people can do to stay safe while shooting fireworks, Cockerham said.
Parish ordinance specifically excludes the use and sale of cherry bombs, tubular salutes, two-inch American-made salutes, firecrackers with casings more than 1½ inches in length or a quarter inch in diameter, repeating bombs, aerial bombs, torpedoes over three-eighths of an inch in diameter, roman candles larger than 10 balls and sky rockets larger than six ounces.
The National Council on Fireworks Safety offers some more safety tips for using fireworks:
—Know your fireworks; read the cautionary labels and performance descriptions before igniting.
—Alcohol and fireworks do not mix. Save your alcohol for after the show.
—Wear safety glasses when shooting fireworks.
—Light one firework at a time and then quickly move away.
—Use fireworks outdoors in a clear area, away from buildings and vehicles.
—Never relight a “dud” firework. Wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.
—Always have a bucket of water and water hose nearby.
—Never carry fireworks in your pocket or shoot them into metal or glass containers.
—Do not experiment with homemade fireworks.
—Dispose of spent fireworks by wetting them down and place in a metal trash can away from any building or combustible materials until the next day.
—FAA regulations prohibit the possession and transportation of fireworks in your checked baggage or carry-on luggage.
—Report illegal explosives, like M-80s and quarter sticks, to the fire or police department.