Fireworks a go for city residents with a permit

As families gather this weekend to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday, many will enjoy popping fireworks as part of the celebration. Residents inside the Guthrie city limits will need a firework permit if they want to participate in the fun.

The use of fireworks on private residential property are allowed outside of the historic downtown district with a permit. The permits can be purchased at Guthrie City Hall for $15.

Click here for an application.

Fireworks are not allowed to be discharged on public property, which includes the Cottonwood Flats, Liberty Lake and Guthrie Lake.

Violators of the ordinance can have their fireworks confiscated and destroyed along with a fine of $200.

According to state statue, it shall be unlawful to explode or ignite fireworks within five hundred (500) feet of any church, hospital, asylum, unharvested, flammable agricultural crop, public school or where fireworks are stored, sold or offered for sale. No person shall ignite or discharge any permissible articles of fireworks within or throw the same from a motor vehicle; nor shall any person place or throw any ignited article of fireworks into or at such a motor vehicle or at or near any group of people.

The City of Guthrie regulations are as follows: 

• An adult person over the age of 18 may obtain a permit from the City of Guthrie to discharge Class C fireworks only from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on July 3, 4, and 5 or from 11:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. on New Year’s Eve. Each holiday requires a separate permit.
• The adult permit holder must be physically present and within 100 feet of the point of display for any household member to use the fireworks.
• The permit must be prominently displayed at the location listed on the permit during the discharge of the fireworks and available for examination by any public safety officer.
• Fireworks must be discharged on a non-combustible surface of sufficient size to contain the entire ground portion of the display and must be located on private residential property outside of the Capital Townsite Historic District and not closer than 25 feet from any permanent structure.
• It is unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to set off or detonate any fireworks of an explosive nature or noise emitting type, nature or description within the Capitol Townsite Historic District unless approved by the City Manager or his/her designee.
• Private persons may not use or discharge fireworks on any public property, street or easement unless approved by the City of Guthrie
• No more than 25 people can be at the location listed on the permit at the time the fireworks are discharged unless approved by the City of Guthrie.   
• Permit holder will have extinguishment device (water or fire extinguisher) available at the site of fireworks discharge.
• Permit holder is responsible for cleaning up any debris caused by any person discharging fireworks at the location listed on the permit.
• Permit holder is responsible for damage or injury to other persons or property resulting from fireworks use.
• In the event that the Governor of the State of Oklahoma calls a Red Flag Fire Alert or Burn Ban for the area, or the City of Guthrie Fire Department determines that the City of Guthrie is in danger of fire due to weather conditions, the City of Guthrie may declare the use of fireworks to be illegal and all fireworks permits to be void, without refund.
• Any violations of these regulations may result in fines and/or confiscation of fireworks.