What you need to know about what types, when and where fireworks are legal in Ada County
Fourth of July is just a week away, and it’s about the time of year when people start to either plan which firework display they’ll attend or buy fireworks themselves to put on their own show.
But what are Ada County’s firework laws?
While fireworks are banned in unincorporated areas of the county — including all of the Boise Foothills that fall under county jurisdiction — “safe and sane fireworks” are permitted to be sold and lit throughout much of the county.
Safe and sane fireworks, such as cone fountains, sparklers, wheels and whistles, are considered nonaerial fireworks that do not travel outside a 20-foot diameter.
The Board of Ada County Commissioners voted 2-1 in favor last week of readopting a fireworks prohibition for certain unincorporated areas of the county. An unincorporated area is any land not governed by a municipal organization, such as a town or city.
For Ada County, that includes the Boise Foothills and large swaths of the southeast region of the county, including the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area.
“Last year’s Goose Creek fire, which was caused by illegal fireworks, burned more than 400 acres of landfill property dangerously close to our onsite power plant,” Ada County commissioner Kendra Kenyon said in a statement. “This is the area where all collected landfill gas is consolidated for use in power generation. With how much rain we have recently had, there is much more vegetation that can burn.”
Ada County provides an interactive online map of where fireworks are prohibited on its website.
Where can you light nonaerial fireworks?
It is legal to both purchase and light nonaerial fireworks within Boise city limits beginning at midnight on June 23 through to midnight July 5 — similar rules also apply from Dec. 26 to January 1 each year.
The only exception is Boise city parks, including Ann Morrison and Camel’s Back Parks, along with many other smaller parks.
Any fireworks that do not fall under the Bureau of Land Management’s “safe and sane fireworks” definition are not permitted for use by the general public.
Examples of banned fireworks include fireworks containing explosive material that will burn when ignited, such as M-80s and cherry bombs, fireworks that leave the ground of their own accord, such as sky and bottle rockets, or fireworks that emit sparks more than 20 feet vertically.
TNT Fireworks has 10 stands throughout Ada County and sells novelty items such as sparklers at chain stores across the county, including Albertsons, Target and Walmart.
Discount Fireworks Superstore also has four Treasure Valley locations, including two in Ada County, one in Nampa and one in Caldwell.
For those wanting to see the sky alight in color, the city is hosting a fireworks display at Ann Morrison Park on the Fourth of July, starting at 10:15 p.m. Food and drink vendors, including alcohol, will be on-site beginning at 6 p.m.
Fireworks safety
The city also provides a list of safety tips for before, during and after lighting your own fireworks:
Before:
Use legal fireworks that are available at licensed firework outlets.
Store fireworks out of the reach of children.
Always read and follow the labeled directions.
Place pets who may be easily frightened by fireworks indoors.
Always have water close by in case of a fire.
During:
An adult should always light fireworks.
Keep matches and lighters away from children.
Only use fireworks outdoors.
Light only one firework at a time and quickly move away once it’s lit.
Keep children and pets away from fireworks.
Do not throw lit fireworks or hold them in your hand.
After:
Soak used fireworks in a bucket of water overnight.
Dispose of used fireworks and debris properly, which involves double-wrapping the soaked fireworks in a plastic bag and taking them to a local solid waste facility.
Never re-light a “dud” firework. Wait 15 or 20 minutes and then soak it in water.
This story was originally published June 28, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
