Duluth fire officials warn of fireworks risks ahead of July 4 holiday
A backyard firework can turn into a burn, a brush fire or a citation fast, and Minnesota law bars most fireworks unless an exception applies.
Jon Otis of the Duluth Fire Department says a bottle rocket or small yard firework can become a bigger public-safety issue when people ignore local rules or set off devices near dry grass, buildings or crowds. Duluth fire officials are warning St. Louis County households to slow down before lighting fireworks ahead of the July 4 holiday.
The risk is not limited to scorch marks or singed lawns. Fireworks can start brush fires, injure hands and faces, unsettle pets and veterans, and keep first responders busy on a night when crews are already covering holiday cookouts, lake traffic and other calls. In a dry stretch, one spark can move quickly from a driveway or backyard into a fire that threatens neighboring homes and trees.
Minnesota Statutes chapter 624 generally makes it unlawful to sell, possess, use or explode fireworks unless an exception applies. Public fireworks displays must be supervised by an operator certified by the state fire marshal and generally require a permit before the show can go forward.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention puts about 70% to 75% of fireworks injuries in the 30-day window around July 4, from June 23 through July 23. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated 9,700 fireworks-related injuries treated in emergency departments in 2023, then estimated 14,700 injuries and 11 deaths in 2024. Sparklers alone were involved in about 1,700 emergency-room-treated injuries in 2024.
Duluth Fire Department officials are also promoting the state Fire Marshal Division’s Chalk it Up campaign as a quieter alternative to traditional fireworks.
The U.S. Coast Guard will enforce a safety zone for the Superior 4th of July Fireworks Display on July 4, 2026.
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