LEWISTON — The city’s rural property owners will get to launch fireworks on their land three days out of the year, councilors decided Tuesday.

Councilors adopted an ordinance that bans fireworks year-round in the urban downtown.

But property owners living in the city’s firearms discharge zone will be allowed to shoot off fireworks on New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day and July 4.

Councilors were also considering a total, citywide year-round ban on fireworks.

“But I just cannot imagine why we would want to ban something that is legal in the state,” Councilor Richard Desjardins said.

The partial ban passed by a 4-3 vote, with Councilors Nathan Libby, Doreen Christ and Craig Saddlemire opposing it in favor of the total ban.

A new state law legalized the sale and possession of fireworks as of Jan. 1. The state does let cities and towns adopt their own rules banning fireworks, however. Several cities have already done that, including Auburn, Bangor and Portland.

A majority on the previous City Council members supported a complete ban in November, but couldn’t get enough votes to pass the measure.

The new rule bans the sale of fireworks in the city but allows limited use where firearm use is currently allowed. Lewiston’s no-fire zone rings the central part of the city. It runs from the Androscoggin River, south of Merrill Road, and follows transmission lines east to Grove Street to the eastern limit of the city. From there, it follows the Maine Turnpike back to the river.

Ward 5 Councilor Saddlemire said he asked around his ward but was unable to find anyone that supported the partial ban.

“When they give me their reasons, the concern is the adverse impact from fireworks is not just to the users, but the people around them,” Saddlemire said. “They worry about unintended fires starting or noise that triggers traumatic emotions or upsets animals. I respect that other councilors may have heard different, but it’s the only story I’ve heard.”

Councilors did amend the ordinance to require permission from the property owner before launching fireworks. That change came after Pauline Gudas, of 6 Raymond Ave., said she was worried about inner city residents bringing their fireworks to the rural part of the city uninvited.

“If you are going to ban it at all, you should ban it completely — and I support that,” she said.

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