Residential fireworks brought back to Guthrie city limits

Article written in October 2017. 

With a 5-0 city council vote, residential fireworks are returning to the city limits of Guthrie.

In 2011, the Guthrie city council allowed the sale and discharge of fireworks within the city limits, but in 2014 amended the City code by restricting the fireworks to residential properties of at least five acres or more in size.

On Tuesday night, the council removed the five acres and added language that does not allow fireworks within the City’s historic district unless given special permission.

Just last month, a council workshop was held on the matter and the vote for approval was held.

Fireworks must be discharged on a non-combustible surface and not closer than 25 feet from any permanent structure.

Rules and Guidelines

• 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 a.m. to 11 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 and not closer than 25 feet from any permanent structure.
• 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.