Fireworks Safety: Celebrating Responsibly

As fireworks season approaches, learn how the Bureau of Fire Services works to regulate fireworks sales, educate the public, and promote safe celebrations across Michigan.

https://www.michigan.gov/lara/bureau-list/bfs/fireworks

Transcript

Anastasha Osborn 0:20

Welcome back to the LARA Living Room podcast. As we head into the Fourth of July holiday, many Michiganders are preparing to celebrate with family, friends, and of course fireworks. But with those celebrations comes an important responsibility to use fireworks safely and understand the laws that help protect our communities. And today we are joined by Mick, and he is our Fireworks Enforcement Unit Supervisor with the Bureau of Fire Services. And Mick oversees Michigan's fireworks enforcement efforts and works closely with retailers, local communities, and public safety partners just to help ensure that fireworks are sold and used safely throughout our state. And we'll talk about Michigan's fireworks laws, some common misconceptions, some safety tips for families, and how this work helps protect both residents and our great state. Now we can't get started without giving you some time to fill up your coffee or your drink of choice. Grab a seat and get comfortable because you are now in the LARA Living Room. Hello, Mick. Thank you for joining me today.

Mick Dingman 1:10

Hi, thanks for having me.

Anastasha Osborn 1:12

Of course. So before we jump in, I kind of want to get a little bit of background about yourself and kind of how you got into this line of work.

Mick Dingman 1:18

Well, um, how I got into fireworks was an accident. I mean the law changed in 2012, to end of 2011, beginning of 2012, and we all of a sudden found ourselves in the fireworks business.

Anastasha Osborn 1:29

Yeah, and what were you doing before?

Mick Dingman 1:31

So I worked, I still work for the for the state for the bureau.

Anastasha Osborn 1:34

Okay.

Mick Dingman 1:34

Um prior to that I was doing you know the supervisor for Detroit.

Anastasha Osborn 1:38

Okay.

Mick Dingman 1:38

So I did code, code inspections, everything that the bureau is responsible for from a code standpoint outside of fireworks. Um once the fireworks law changed, we quickly learned that there was a tremendous amount of work involved and it couldn't be handled kind of on a you know part-time basis. Yeah. So shortly after that, that's where they created a full-time position for the fireworks enforcement.

Anastasha Osborn 1:58

Wow, okay. And then that's how you got into that type of work. And you're saying Bureau Bureau of Fire Services.

Mick Dingman 2:03

Bureau of Fire Services, yeah.

Anastasha Osborn 2:04

Awesome. So when most people think of fireworks, um, they probably don't think about the Bureau of Fire Services, but this has been something that's been going on for over 10 years. Um and so what role does your team actually play in fireworks safety across Michigan?

Mick Dingman 2:18

Well, you you've got different components. You've got the code section, which does the inspections of the tents and the brick and mortar facilities. Those are the licenses that the Bureau issues issues licenses for all the retailers. Um then you've got the enforcement section, which is primarily more based around uh compliance-related issues, uh, people selling fireworks without licenses, without the appropriate insurance, things like that. And then of course getting into the illegal devices and stuff like that.

Anastasha Osborn 2:43

Okay, and I know we're gonna talk a little bit about what that all entails, but first I kind of want you to walk us through what happens before a consumer actually can buy fireworks. Like what does that look like?

Mick Dingman 2:52

Yeah, so I mean it everything starts out, honestly, most fireworks come from China. So if you think about it, um everything starts in China, those orders start coming in throughout the early parts of the year, um, the July season ends, and new orders start in August. Um, fireworks come in from China, um, everything gets tested through various testing agencies, trying to make sure that devices remain safe for the consumers and the people that are using them. Um, and then from that point it starts being distributed throughout the country, throughout the different states.

Anastasha Osborn 3:21

Yeah.

Mick Dingman 3:21

Uh 49 of the states in the country now allow fireworks. Whereas 20 years ago, there were only 25 states that allowed fireworks.

Anastasha Osborn 3:28

Interesting. I did not know that. Just learned something new. Um so when people are buying fireworks, I mean, can you go over what are the different types of fireworks, I guess?

Mick Dingman 3:36

Yep, so so in Michigan, we've got a few different classes. We have novelties, which are unregulated. Um, anybody can sell novelties, any stores, convenience stores, party stores. That's basically your small sparklers, smoke bombs, uh, snap it pops, things like that.

Anastasha Osborn 3:49

Okay.

Mick Dingman 3:50

Um, no regulation on those, no uh license requirements, nothing of that nature. Then the next step up would be low impact, where um we do collect the 6% safety fee, and I'm sure we'll get into that a little later. Um, low impact is basically the items that were allowed in Michigan prior to December of 2011 when the law changed, and it's basically your ground-based devices, fountains, things of that nature. Nothing that blows up, nothing that goes in the air.

Anastasha Osborn 4:15

Okay.

Mick Dingman 4:16

Uh, the next level is consumer grade, which is the big change and when the law changed, that basically allowed aerial devices and reports, meaning the booms and the bangs. All right.

Anastasha Osborn 4:26

Yeah, and do you see most, I would say, like the general public, people who are going to celebrate 4th of July, for example, um, just like normal civilians, are they purchasing which level is kind of the most that they are can they are purchasing? And then, you know, that level three that you mentioned, is that more kind of like these big productions that you know businesses or something are putting on?

Mick Dingman 4:46

No, it's so so you know, families, I think it's different based on the the family environment, how old the kids are and what level of stuff you want. But I also think it's different, you know, you might have young kids and the kids are fine with the small stuff, but maybe mom and dad want the bigger stuff. You know, um, you know, Michigan, I think last year we had about 58 million in sales and consumer fireworks, right? So that's that's everything from the aerial-based stuff, the ground-based stuff. Um, there's a tremendous amount of it sold. You know, there's this year we have 705 licenses, I believe, throughout the state.

Anastasha Osborn 5:19

Yeah. Okay, so I do want to circle back and tell me a little bit more about the um are they safety fees?

Mick Dingman 5:25

Yeah, so so in Michigan, the way the law reads is that there's essentially 12% tax on fireworks. You've got your initial six percent sales tax, which you'd have on anything. There's also an additional six percent fireworks safety fee.

Anastasha Osborn 5:36

Okay.

Mick Dingman 5:37

So with every legal transaction that takes place on consumer grade fireworks, they're collecting six percent. That six percent generates on average between three, three and a half million dollars a year that is one hundred percent dedicated to the fire service in the state of Michigan.

Anastasha Osborn 5:51

Okay.

Mick Dingman 5:52

So that gives, especially a lot of your smaller departments that don't have as much funding, that gives them more resources for training or for equipment, things of that nature.

Anastasha Osborn 6:00

Yeah.

Mick Dingman 6:01

So, you know, three and a half million, that's that's quite a bit.

Anastasha Osborn 6:03

Yeah, and that goes across the entire state. You guys kind of just spread out through the state. Yeah. Okay.

Mick Dingman 6:07

Yep. Um municipalities can reach out through the Michigan Firefighter Training Council to gain access to that, you know, figure out how they get those funds. But yeah, so I mean it's it's it's bringing in that six percent. I mean, three and a half million a year, that's yeah, that's a significant amount of money that helps the fire service out.

Anastasha Osborn 6:22

Absolutely, and then having them um funded so they're able to have the things that they need, so then they can better serve also the communities as well. So yeah, that's great to know. And so, and are they just I mean, you mentioned, you know, we they you get the shipment in early in the year and then July hits, and then you know, they can they start again in August. But is there I mean, are we seeing primarily like this time of the year, the June, July is kind of the peak season for firework purchases?

Mick Dingman 6:46

Yep. So with with Michigan, our big season is basically mid-June through the first week of July. Okay, which is unique because we've done we've done quite a bit of work with other states, and what we found is that in the southern states, fireworks are bigger in New Year's Eve time. Whereas with us, it's too cold. Yeah, so we don't see a whole lot outside of July.

Anastasha Osborn 7:02

Yeah.

Mick Dingman 7:03

We see a lot of the the stuff coming in, we see a lot of preparation for the next season, but we don't see a whole lot of use.

Anastasha Osborn 7:08

Interesting. Okay. So let's say um if I'm planning a 4th of July celebration at home, what are some of the most important Michigan fireworks laws that I should be aware of before I even purchase or light anything?

Mick Dingman 7:20

Yeah, so so first and foremost, you know, you want to make sure that you're getting your fireworks from a licensed legal location, right? Um, that's part of what my unit, the enforcement unit, does is we find the locations that aren't licensed that may not be selling the stuff that's been tested, compliant, and safe. So you want to buy it from a licensed retailer, right? Um, every one of our licensed retailers will have their state license hanging and posted at their location. Okay. So that's that's step number one. Uh step number two is make sure you understand the devices and how they function.

Anastasha Osborn 7:49

Yeah.

Mick Dingman 7:49

You want to make sure that if you're lighting something, you know if it's a ground-based item or something that's going to shoot up into the sky.

Anastasha Osborn 7:54

Yeah.

Mick Dingman 7:54

Because it can be dangerous, you know, if if you're not expecting that to occur, right? Um, from a fire standpoint, you want to make sure you've always got like a bucket of water or a fire hose, something like that. Uh one of the big things that's tested through the testing agencies is they want to make sure that once the device is done and it's functioned, it goes out. It's kind of self-extinguishes, it doesn't catch on fire. And a lot of the ones that don't go through that testing, they don't that doesn't occur. They will start on fire. It might not be right after the device, it could be ten minutes later.

Anastasha Osborn 8:24

You know, okay.

Mick Dingman 8:24

So you want to make sure you wet the devices down, and if you don't have the ability to wet them down, you want to make sure that you leave them away from anything that could catch fire.

Anastasha Osborn 8:32

Okay.

Mick Dingman 8:32

Don't throw them in a curb cart, don't pull the curb cart up next to your house, park it next to your garage, because that's where a lot of those fires occur.

Anastasha Osborn 8:39

Okay. That's good to know. Good tips. Um, so sparklers are kind of one thing that you mentioned that's kind of the lower level, right? Yep. Um, they're often handed to children, right? Because they seem safer than other fireworks. And so, would you say in your experience that that is typically true?

Mick Dingman 8:56

So, sparklers, they're actually the leading cause of injuries with all fireworks nationwide, not just Michigan. Yeah, burn injuries, right? Okay. So we're not seeing, you know, the the the more serious injuries or fatalities, but we're seeing a tremendous amount of burns because most of them are metal. Um, they stay hot for several you know, seconds to minutes after they go out. Um you don't want to see kids running around with them. You get eye injuries where they fall on them, poke themselves in the face or the eyes, um, things like that.

Anastasha Osborn 9:24

Okay, yeah. I I was thinking about that. I mean, I have a six-year-old son, so I'm always thinking the sparklers are fun for him. He gets excited to use them, but then I was like, well, these still seem like they could potentially be harmful still. So people might think that they are not, but just keep that in mind. Um now, are there certain weather conditions or you know, environmental factors that people should take in consideration outside of you know the winter time when it's freezing and fireworks may not be most ideal?

Mick Dingman 9:48

Yeah, the the big thing, you know, with us in Michigan that we've got to look at is we've got to look at the dry seasons, right? So the DNR of the statute gives the DNR of the governor's office with the state fire marshal the ability to limit when fireworks are used based on those dry conditions. Um I don't know that individuals will be making that call themselves, but it's certainly a factor. You know, there there are situations where maybe you've got a dry field next to where you're setting them off. That's different than setting them off in a parking lot where it's dry, right?

Anastasha Osborn 10:14

Right, yeah.

Mick Dingman 10:14

Um, wind conditions, if you're using aerial devices, um you want to be, you know, aware of that because when you set them off, believe it or not, that those wind conditions can push those devices on other properties or properties that you're not in control of.

Anastasha Osborn 10:27

Yeah. Yeah, and trees, I'm assuming too. I mean, we would want to be conscious if there's trees around. I feel like I've I've been and and witnessed myself, you know, people setting fireworks off and they're too close to a tree, it hits a tree. I mean, is that also something people should take in consideration?

Mick Dingman 10:41

Yeah, I mean, certainly. I mean, any a lot of those devices are meant to when they when they function, they're shooting 100, 150 feet in the air. So if it hits something, it's not gonna be able to travel where it's meant to travel. And the way the devices function is they're designed so they go off after they reach their highest point of what they're meant to to function at.

Anastasha Osborn 10:58

Okay.

Mick Dingman 10:59

If it hits a tree and can't make make it to that highest point, it's gonna go off lower, which could cause you know problems, either injuries, fires, whatever.

Anastasha Osborn 11:06

Yeah. Okay. So let's say, you know, in this instance, kind of because we're talking about this, um, if a firework does malfunction, um, it doesn't go the way it's expected, what do you recommend people do?

Mick Dingman 11:17

Give it time to let it sit there and don't walk up on it. We always say leave stuff alone for at least 30 minutes. If it doesn't go off, then do not walk up on it because there's always a chance it could still go off, and that's where some injuries do occur.

Anastasha Osborn 11:29

Yeah, okay.

Mick Dingman 11:30

For sure.

Anastasha Osborn 11:30

Yeah. And um, you know, fireworks are often viewed, you know, as this really fun holiday tradition, as you know, we're talking about the 4th of July, and there's a lot happening behind the scenes from your team that's making sure the communities are staying safe with the enforcement efforts. So, how does your team also work to just support and continue to do the work um outside of just the enforcement efforts? Are there also um you know public safety educational materials that people can also look at?

Mick Dingman 11:57

So we have some information on the Bureau of Fire Services website where they can see what fireworks are legal and which ones aren't. They can also find licensed retailers through a map that's on our website. Okay. Um, showing them which uh retailers are authorized to sell consumer fireworks. Um primarily our our our main thing is we you know we work with a lot of the local municipalities because you know they're the ones that are out there, they have the boots on the ground from the fire departments, the police departments. Um we try to function in a role where we're the experts as far as what's legal, what's not, um, what can be used, what can't be used, timelines, that's a big one. You know, when can fireworks be used and when can't they be used?

Anastasha Osborn 12:32

Yeah. And is there a timeline?

Mick Dingman 12:35

So yeah, that's so this is one of the biggest misconceptions with the state law. A lot of the local municipalities believe that fireworks can only be used on certain days. Okay. And so what the law has, we call them protected days. The law has a certain amount of days, I believe it's 11 days, where uh us as a state agency or the local municipalities cannot stop someone from using fireworks because those are the protected days under the statute.

Anastasha Osborn 12:59

Okay.

Mick Dingman 13:00

But if a if a municipality does not have an ordinance that would ban them or prohibit them or limit their use outside of those days, fireworks would be legal every single day of the year. So for example, I live in a small township with no fireworks ordinance. Fireworks for us in my township, it's legal every day of the year. Yeah. And that's a big misconception because a lot of people think it's just those certain days.

Anastasha Osborn 13:22

Yeah, so then it's just dependent on the municipality that you live in, other ordinances. Okay. Correct. And in that same kind of line, um, times. So like the time of the day, um, are there is that also based off of the municipality?

Mick Dingman 13:36

Yeah, so if it falls within those protected days we talk about, each of those protected days has a time listed with those days. Okay. And it varies based on the holiday. Um obviously 4th of July and New Year's are the latest days that can be used. But outside of those days, the locals can set those those hours and times based on their ordinance.

Anastasha Osborn 13:54

Yeah.

Mick Dingman 13:54

You know.

Anastasha Osborn 13:55

Okay. So I want to talk just a little bit more too about your enforcement unit. Um, and so you had kind of already given us a little bit of a high overview of what you guys actually do. Um do you guys also, you know, as you're getting complaints that come in, are you also um responding to those as well?

Mick Dingman 14:10

So we respond to complaints from uh like a sales aspect. Okay. Either people are selling fireworks without a license, um, selling out of garages, homes, U-Haul trucks, you know, things of that nature. Um we respond to complaints of illegal devices, so something that's not in compliance with consumer safety standards.

Anastasha Osborn 14:27

Yep.

Mick Dingman 14:28

Um and then we'll also respond to any injuries or unfortunately if there are any fatalities, because we want to know what the issues were. You know, what what caused the injury? Was it was it misuse? Was it a faulty device? Was it an illegal device? Things like that.

Anastasha Osborn 14:41

Okay. And you had mentioned earlier um that the fireworks are tested through different agencies, um, and that's I'm assuming not within our department or within the Bureau of Fire Services.

Mick Dingman 14:52

Correct. So, yeah, so before the fireworks even leave China, they have to be tested through a third-party agency.

Anastasha Osborn 14:57

Okay.

Mick Dingman 14:57

So we've got a close relationship with the American Fireworks Standards Laboratory. Unfortunately, they test about 85% of all the fireworks that come into the country.

Anastasha Osborn 15:05

Okay.

Mick Dingman 15:05

They have very significant testing standards higher than what the federal government has. Okay. So they get tested from that aspect. From our side of things, let's say we receive a complaint that there's a device out there that maybe the device has too much uh what's called flash powder. It's an explosive report powder that makes that loud sound. Our unit has the ability to disassemble the devices, um, separate the components, and determine if those powders are within the legal the legal allowances for state and federal requirements.

Anastasha Osborn 15:33

Interesting. Okay. The way you're explaining it sounds simple and I appreciate that. I'm sure it's a lot more technical. Is there any type of education or training that is required to work specifically with fireworks or maybe even just in your enforcement unit?

Mick Dingman 15:48

Well, you know, again, the program was new, so a lot of it we've put together ourselves. We've been to, you know, kind of figure out which direction we are going to travel, and a lot of that was set for us just based on things that occurred. You know, it we had a unfortunately the very first year we had a fatality, and that kind of shifted direction of where we were going to go with the program. Um but there's uh like we get a lot of our training through the American Firework Standards Laboratory. Um we do training with the you know the military national guard, the 745th EOD group. They do a lot of our explosives trainings. Um we train with the ETF, which is the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms. Um we've done some training with the FBI, Federal Bureau of Investigation. And then likewise, we now provide training to them specific to fireworks.

Anastasha Osborn 16:32

Wow, so it's kind of a nice little trade-off with that.

Mick Dingman 16:35

For sure. Great, great working relationship because a lot of the fireworks stuff is regulated, you know, at the federal level, whether it's through the explosives groups such as the ETF or through uh DOT Department of Transportation, as far as putting the stuff into commerce and on the roadways.

Anastasha Osborn 16:48

Right, because they have the transfer, I'm assuming, very safely.

Mick Dingman 16:51

Yes, because they are even consumer fireworks are they're a class of explosive. Yeah, it's a lower class, but they're still explosives.

Anastasha Osborn 16:57

Yeah, absolutely. Um, and then talking about your unit, um, how many uh individuals are within your unit?

Mick Dingman 17:04

Well, so there's me as the supervisor and then two other positions.

Anastasha Osborn 17:08

Okay.

Mick Dingman 17:08

Okay. Um, something that we did two years ago to try and help with you know geography, Michigan being a big state.

Anastasha Osborn 17:15

Yeah.

Mick Dingman 17:15

Is we added a firework specialist position to each region.

Anastasha Osborn 17:18

Okay.

Mick Dingman 17:19

So now one person from each region, Grand Rapids, Northern Region, Lansing, Saginaw area, um, one of the one of those code guys also functions as a fireworks specialist.

Anastasha Osborn 17:28

Okay.

Mick Dingman 17:29

And then they'll train through the off season with my unit.

Anastasha Osborn 17:32

Okay.

Mick Dingman 17:32

So they get a little more training than the code guys do. Um, and and then they're they're kind of acting as a specialist for the region. Yeah. Because what we found is, you know, a lot of you know, fireworks is unique in the fact that, you know, in January I had zero complaints, zero issues. We had uh 15 complaints come in in the last nine days.

Anastasha Osborn 17:50

Oh, just recently.

Mick Dingman 17:51

Just recently. Wow. Yeah, so we get a lot of complaints, it's all based on the on the time frame, and it's tough for two positions to cover the entire state.

Anastasha Osborn 17:59

Absolutely.

Mick Dingman 17:59

So by adding those specialist positions, it helped out tremendously. It gives the code guys somebody to go to as a resource that might have a little bit of extra knowledge, whether it be in the insurance or the types of devices or whatnot.

Anastasha Osborn 18:11

Yeah. And I was just gonna ask, I mean, is there um I'm assuming like a wealth of knowledge that you kind of have to have, like you just mentioned insurance, um, and just kind of how the fireworks function and yeah.

Mick Dingman 18:23

I mean, you've gotta you've gotta have some a good understanding of how the fireworks function. You've got to have understandings of the companies, you know. Um most of the fireworks industry kind of is is is based around a few larger companies. Yeah. And then there's quite a bit smaller, you know, the mom and papa operators and retailers, but they're buying a lot of their stuff from those companies. Yeah. So one of the big things that we we focus on is we learn which companies are legal, and that helps the ones that come in that aren't legal to stand out.

Anastasha Osborn 18:50

Yeah.

Mick Dingman 18:50

Because there are there's a tremendous amount. I mean, there's hundreds and hundreds of containers that come into the United States every year, and it's nothing but illegal fireworks.

Anastasha Osborn 18:59

Yeah.

Mick Dingman 18:59

So we try to find those and we try to keep them out of Michigan because we don't want them in the consumers' hands. Yeah. Because we don't want we don't want people getting hurt.

Anastasha Osborn 19:06

Yeah. And what does that enforcement um efforts kind of look like once you do find somebody?

Mick Dingman 19:11

Well, once we once we find somebody, we're taking action to try and figure out how we can get that product from them. You know, of course, using legal means and methods, we'll work with uh law enforcement agencies, whether it's local, county, state, federal. Um we've uh I don't know the right way to say it. I mean, we've gotten kind of good at it. You know, we the very first year I think we seized eight illegal devices, and now on average we're seizing two to three thousand cases a year. You know, yeah. So we've gotten good at finding it, we've gotten good at recognizing the different types of devices and pro you know. Um now the tricky part is um getting it safely, you know, getting it safely and getting it out of the hands of the people that shouldn't have it.

Anastasha Osborn 19:51

Yeah, and then what do you guys do with those fireworks once you do seize them?

Mick Dingman 19:54

Once we seize it, we're under the law, we have to hold it pending the court process. Okay, uh, once that process is over and it's it's legally then turned over to us for disposal, um we do different several different means of disposal. So whether it means you know setting them off, um, we blow them up using high explosives um and everything in between.

Anastasha Osborn 20:12

And you do that like in an isolated area or like a specific place that you can do it.

Mick Dingman 20:15

We do it at Camp Grayling.

Anastasha Osborn 20:16

Oh, okay, so up north.

Mick Dingman 20:17

Yeah, so we can do we can do uh as many as four to five hundred cases at a time up there. Wow.

Anastasha Osborn 20:23

That's incredible. Well, is there anything else that you would like to share with our listeners, um, whether it's about your work or about fireworks or fireworks safety in general?

Mick Dingman 20:31

No, I think I think probably the main thing is just you know buy the fireworks from a licensed retailer, make sure you're using them as a safe method. Um another one that unfortunately always comes into play is uh drugs and alcohol.

Anastasha Osborn 20:42

Yes.

Mick Dingman 20:43

You know, you you always want to make sure you've got somebody sober that's that's using these fireworks because let's face it, usually it's a celebration type event where you're setting them off and and at least you know at a minimum alcohol is usually a factor, and that usually contributes to a lot of the injuries. You know, we we found that consumer fireworks, if they're compliant, legal consumer fireworks, they're used appropriately, they're usually safe, right? It's where they're not used appropriately, or if someone's under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or you know, you set them off and then you immediately throw them in a trash can, that's where they cause problems.

Anastasha Osborn 21:14

Yep. Okay. So if our listeners keep that in mind when we uh especially are celebrating this upcoming 4th of July. Well, um, that's all I had, Mick. Thank you for joining me today and sharing your experience and expertise on all things fireworks.

Mick Dingman 21:27

Perfect. Thanks for having me and have a good fourth.

Anastasha Osborn 21:29

Thank you. All right, so as we've discussed, fireworks can be a fun part of holiday celebrations, but they also come with important responsibilities. So taking a few simple precautions and understanding Michigan's firework laws can help prevent injuries, reduce fire risk, and keep celebrations safe for everyone. To learn more about firework safety and the work of the Bureau of Fire Services, you can visit the link in our show notes. As always, we appreciate you tuning in and listening to the LARA Living Room podcast from our Living Room to yours, we'll see you next time.