Ohio Fire Marshal Highlights Dangers of Illegal, Homemade Fireworks

ZANESVILLE, OH – With the 4th of July quickly approaching, the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of the State Fire Marshal wants to make sure everyone is celebrating safely.

Richard Sluder, a State Fire Marshal Chief Deputy, says as you plan to purchase fireworks this summer, to make sure you are purchasing them from a licensed retailer and to only purchase fireworks you are comfortable with.

He says consumer fireworks go through strict regulations and testing to ensure they meet federal safety classification standards; which makes them a safer option for parties and cookouts.

Sluder says here in Ohio it’s illegal for anyone to manufacture, possess, use, or store 1.3G fireworks without a specific license and this includes homemade fireworks.

“Homemade fireworks are very dangerous because they’re not made to any standard.” Sluder said. “There’s no safety standard, there’s no manufacturing process, it basically comes down to what a person would think would work so they put an explosive together that has not been tested and doesn’t meet the standards necessary to be sold in the State of Ohio for safety reasons.”

Illegal fireworks pose many risks, in general fireworks have caused about $400,000 worth of property mange to homes in Ohio from Dec. 21st 2024 until January 3rd, 2026.

Sluder says these homemade fireworks can also be deadly and added that one person was killed with two other people getting injured during a home explosion involving the manufacturing of illegal fireworks.

“The speed of the wick and the amount of flame coming off the device, whether it’s going to leave the ground or stay stationary.” Sluder said. “Those are all part of the instructions, the safety instructions, that come with legal fireworks. In a homemade firework device, or one that you bought through an illegal retailer, you don’t have that safety standard in place or the knowledge that it was made for safe use by citizens.”

If fireworks are being used improperly or outside of permitted times, residents should contact their local law enforcement agency.