{"id":4532,"date":"2026-06-30T09:05:36","date_gmt":"2026-06-30T09:05:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=4532"},"modified":"2026-06-30T09:05:36","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T09:05:36","slug":"nc-officials-remind-4th-of-july-celebration-goers-of-fireworks-safety-laws","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=4532","title":{"rendered":"NC officials remind 4th of July celebration goers of fireworks safety, laws"},"content":{"rendered":"
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RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) \u2014 As North Carolinians prepare to celebrate Independence Day and America\u2019s 250th Anniversary, state and local officials have a clear holiday message: \u201cIn the name of safety, leave the fireworks to the pros!\u201d<\/p>\n

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This year, Raleigh\u2019s official 4th of July Fireworks Celebration returns to the aptly named Big Field at Dorthea Dix Park following the big birthday bash in 2025 held outside Lenovo Center.<\/p>\n

And now, with much of the state still dealing with drought conditions\u2014and some communities keeping local outdoor burn bans in place\u2014officials say one stray firework spark could ignite more than holiday memories.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, we\u2019re excited about celebrating our birth of our country!\u201d State Fire Marshal\u00a0Brian Taylor said. He also warned people not to light up fireworks in their own neighborhoods as North Carolina celebrates Independence Day.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe just want to caution everybody, and we want them to celebrate responsibly,\u201d Taylor added. For anyone thinking about buying aerial fireworks, the warning isn\u2019t just about safety\u2014it\u2019s also about the law.<\/p>\n

Any firework that flies, explodes or spins\u2014like firecrackers, bottle rockets, Roman candles and aerial shells\u2014is illegal to fire off or even possess\u00a0in the Tarheel State.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course we would say, please go to a local fireworks display and not use illegal fireworks in North Carolina,\u201d Taylor continued, \u201cBut we know that they\u2019ll do that. But we want to caution because they are very dangerous. And we\u2019re concerned because of the severe drought here in North Carolina.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re heading to the beach for the holiday,\u00a0the Fire Marshal said that Brunswick County is currently under a burn ban.<\/p>\n

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An average of 192 North Carolinians are treated in emergency departments each year for fireworks-related injuries.\u00a0Still, a lot more people get\u00a0injured than arrested.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople get injured every year. E.R. visits go up,\u201d Taylor said.<\/p>\n

The criminal charge for illegal fireworks is possession of pyrotechnics, a class 2 misdemeanor punishable by fines of up to $500 and up to six months in jail.<\/p>\n

If those fireworks spark a wildfire or damage someone else\u2019s property, the consequences can become much more costly\u2014including costing you more money, health, and possibly a life.<\/p>\n

According to North Carolina courts, fewer people faced charges last year than in recent years past.<\/p>\n

Taylor also said that more responders will be working this holiday weekend. He said, \u201cI want to thank our first responders who serve each and every day, protect us, and keep us safe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Raleigh police, while not disclosing any security measures\u2014including whether officers would be cracking down more on lawbreakers because of the drought\u2014stress that \u201clegal fireworks should only be handled by responsible adults.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Office of State Fire Marshal encourages residents to:<\/p>\n