Falls fire and ambulance chief has concerns

Bills at the Legislature that would expand the types of fireworks available in Minnesota may be good for people who sell them, but may have consequences, according to Jerry Jensen, chief of the International Falls Fire Department and Ambulance Service.

The law now prohibits in Minnesota fireworks designed to explode or become airborne. The bills, House File 1774 and Senate File 1694, would legalize fireworks containing 75 grams or less of chemical mixture per tube, with 500 grams or less for multiple tubes in a single fireworks. That could include some fireworks intended to be shot into the air, while keeping display pyrotechnics, like those used at concerts or city festivals, illegal for average citizens.

“The big thing is, for people lobbying hard for this, is the revenue the state is losing because money goes to Wisconsin and South Dakota,” Jensen said.

Proponents of the bills say Minnesota businesses could benefit by selling the fireworks that are now illegal. While Jensen said he understands the tax and revenue benefits of expanding fireworks, safety is a big issue.

Tony Ramberg of Premier Fireworks in Mentor is lobbying for approval of the bills.

“I struggle staying in business because many people prefer to cross state lines to purchase their fireworks,” Ramberg said in a statement to media outlets in the state. “I may decide to close my business this year due to this. This is because people want the larger aerial fireworks and not the small only fountain type Minnesota fireworks.”

Ramberg said the prohibition is another example of Minnesotan’s freedoms being inhibited.

“It seems this day and age our freedoms are being taken away from us and this is an opportunity for us to get a freedom back. At least in Minnesota,” he wrote to The Journal. “I would like people to know how much this would benefit our state. It seems all the time state programs are cut in Minnesota due to budget cuts. This could really help Minnesota.”

But Jensen said his argument against the expansion of fireworks is safety. He said he is concerned that expanding the kinds of fireworks allowed in the state may increase the risk of injuries and fires.

“I know people bring (illegal fireworks) into the state,” he said. “We deal with it at Fourth of July in the city and up the lake, but it’s pretty controlled.”

Jensen said he recalls illegal fireworks being used in the state when he was a youngster.

“There were a lot of injuries until the state put the hammer down,” he said.

But as fire and ambulance chief, Jensen said he doesn’t favor expanding legal fireworks in the state.

“I hate to see fireworks in wrong hands,” he said. “If they were used by responsible people watching their kids, they can be fun and used for celebrations. But people give their kids a packet of fireworks and they go outside and play — that’s when there’s trouble.”

Jensen said he believes that the expansion of fireworks bills will be approved by the Legislature this year.

“And I am sure we’ll deal with safety issues if it does pass — loss of eyesight and fingers are the injuries you deal with,” he said. “And of course, fires. People throw them and they start fires.”

Jensen said he was asked, as fire chief, to testify in favor of the bills at a hearing in St. Paul, but refused.

“If it passes and we have to put up with it, we will deal with it,” he said.