WILTON — A new fireworks ordinance, enacted last month during Wilton’s annual town meeting, will govern use of consumer fireworks over the first July 4th celebration since it was voted in on June 10.

Residents in the downtown and the residential 1 zone surrounding the downtown, where houses are closer together, are not allowed to set off fireworks, according to the ordinance.

“Fireworks will not be allowed in the downtown districts of Wilton, East Wilton and East Dixfield and the residential zone,” Town Manager Rhonda Irish said Monday.  “All other districts of town are okay.”

The new consumer fireworks ordinance revolves around fire class days, which is similar to obtaining fire permits, Irish said.

Although police have received few complaints about fireworks, the ordinance spells out not only permitted places but also conditions in which the fireworks can be set off.

A permit from the Fire Department is required on “high” fire danger days — Class 3, as rated by the National Fire Danger Rating System — and no use is permitted on “very high” or “extreme” days — Class 4 and 5.

The ordinance allows the use of fireworks without a permit on Class 1 and 2 fire danger days, as determined by the Maine Forest Service.

The permits must be obtained through the Fire Department and are free of charge.

Residents can call the Public Safety Building at 645-3876 for the names and phone numbers of Fire Department personnel who can issue the permits, she said.

Fireworks permits, unlike burning permits, are not accessible online or at the town office, she said.

The ordinance also prohibits use of fireworks on public property without a permit from the town. 

Violation of the ordinance, a civil violation, can result in fines of no less than $200 or more than $500 for each day the offense continues, according to the town’s ordinance.

The ordinance also follows guidelines noted in the state law.

While Maine law on consumer fireworks allows the use of fireworks from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., it extends the hours to 9 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. on July 4, Dec. 31 and weekends immediately before and after these days.

The state law also excludes certain types of fireworks as consumer fireworks. These include missile-type rockets, helicopters, aerial spinners, sky rockets and bottle rockets.

abryant@sunjournal.com

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