Residents Reminded of Fireworks Ordinance

Fireworks season has started and you are to be reminded of the fireworks law within city limits. The use, discharge or ignition of consumer fireworks by any person or other entity is prohibited in the corporate limits of the City of Knox, Town of North Judson and the Town of Hamlet, except during the following periods: Between the hours of 5pm and two hours after sunset on June 29th and 30th, July 1st-3rd, and July 5th-9th; between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and midnight on July 4th; and between the hours of 10:00 a.m. on December 31st and 1:00 a.m. on January 1st.

Penalties for violating the fireworks law can range from a Class A misdemeanor up to a Class C Felony in the case of reckless or intentional use of fireworks that results in a person’s death. All local governing bodies in Starke County have set a fee schedule for any fireworks ordinance violations.

Only individuals 18 years of age or older may purchase fireworks. Never let children handle, play with, or light fireworks. Always purchase your fireworks from a reliable dealers with a prominently displayed certificate of compliance. Use fireworks outdoors, never indoors. Use a clear open area and keep your audience a safe distance away. Never aim, point, or throw fireworks at another person. There are more than 32,000 fires annually due to mishandling of fireworks and these fires cause more than $30 million in property damage.