Fort Dodge City Code allows for residents to discharge consumer fireworks around the Fourth of July and New Year’s holidays. However, there are strict guidelines for when, exactly, residents can launch fireworks within city limits.

Consumer fireworks can be discharged only from July 1 through July 4 between the hours of 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. On dates that land on a Saturday or Sunday and on July 4, that window of time is extended to 11 p.m.

In short, fireworks can be shot off in Fort Dodge this year on Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday from 5 to 11 p.m. On Monday, fireworks can be used from 5 to 10 p.m.

Violations of the city ordinance are punishable by a minimum fine of $500 for the first offense and $750 for the second and any subsequent offenses.

-Messenger file photo
Tom Ubben, a Fort Dodge firefighter who is now a lieutenant, lights a sparkler at the Fort Dodge Fire Station in June 2017. Sparklers are one type of fireworks that are legal for consumers to purchase.

Since April, the Fort Dodge Police Department has received 38 calls for service for fireworks, FDPD Chief Dennis Quinn said. That number doesn’t include the number of “shots fired” and miscellaneous nuisance calls the department has received that turned out to be fireworks-related.

As Independence Day creeps closer, Quinn said, he expects that number of calls for fireworks to continue to grow.

“Even when they are allowed, people are still going to call those in regardless,” he said. “Because some people, no matter what, are not happy about the fact that people are shooting off fireworks even when it is during allowed hours.”

Quinn also noted that the city ordinance only allows consumer-grade fireworks. According to the city code, professional display fireworks are illegal to use without a permit granted by the city.

Fireworks calls can also have an impact on the FDPD’s resources.

“Every call that comes in, we have to respond to,” Quinn said.

While the department prioritizes emergent calls first, sometimes when an officer is finally able to respond to a report of fireworks, it could be half an hour later and the perpetrators are long gone.

“It makes people upset that we didn’t get there faster, which, we can’t help that,” Quinn said. “We’re allocating our resources to get to things in a timely manner as best we can and sometimes we just can’t get there right away.”

And when an officer is able to respond to a report of fireworks in time to catch somebody in the act, they can spend up to 30 minutes to an hour writing citations.

“Now that officer’s dealing with that instead of going to their other calls that are coming in,” Quinn said.

The chief also reminds residents to use safe practices when discharging fireworks.

“We want everybody to have a good holiday, but we don’t want any injuries or any damage to property,” Quinn said.

Other sections of the city’s fireworks ordinance dictate:

No one under the age of 18 can possess or discharge consumer fireworks without parental supervision. If someone under the age of 18 is found to have or be discharging consumer fireworks without parental supervision, the fireworks will be confiscated and other penalties may be enforced.

Consumer fireworks can only be discharged on the individual’s own property.

Fireworks cannot be used in any parks, public lands, buildings or rights-of-way without a permit issued by the city.

The use of fireworks on public roads is forbidden.

Fireworks cannot be used by people who are drunk or under the influence of drugs.

Individuals who choose to discharge fireworks assume all responsibility for any consequences.

Altering, removing or discharging components of consumer fireworks in any way other than the intended discharge method is prohibited.

Due to the serious threat of fire or injury posed by the use of consumer fireworks outside of what the law allows, strict civil liability will be imposed on owners or legal tenants of real property for all violations.