Fireworks restrictions win approval in Butte-Silver Bow, Montana

The Butte-Silver Bow Council of Commissioners voted new restrictions for using fireworks into law.

The new ordinance, approved on a 7-5 vote, limits the discharge of fireworks to the same days they are legally sold in Montana: June 24 to July 5, and from Dec. 29 to 31.

Voting for the ordinance were Commissioners Cindi Shaw, Wally Frasz, Charlie O’Leary, Jim Fay, John Sorich, Glen Granger and Joe Lee.

Commissioners Mike Sheehy, Mark Moodry, Rocko Mulcahy, Dan Foley and David Coleman voted no.

Frasz said he supported the ordinance, which was proposed in November by Shaw, after discussing the issue with people in and out of his district.

“I’m all for fireworks during the holidays,” he said. “Carrying it on outside of the festive season I think is a little bit out of line.” Yet the ordinance won’t be effective unless residents are willing to sign complaints against those who use fireworks out of season. “If the people don’t call in and sign a complaint, the police have no option,” Frasz said.

Moodry, on the other hand, said he voted no because fireworks aren’t normally an issue outside of the dates adopted in the ordinance.

“The problems we have are generally during the times we sell fireworks anyway,” he said. “I just thought it was over-governing.” An ordinance establishing times in which residents must stop using fireworks would have been more effective, Moodry said.

Jeff Miller, director of Butte-Silver Bow fire services, and Sheriff John Walsh endorsed the restriction.

Miller believes restricting fireworks to certain days will reduce the number of calls the fire department receives, particu-larly for grass fires.

The new ordinance takes effect in 30 days, according to Eileen Joyce, deputy county attorney.

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