State fire marshal, administrative services oppose expanding consumer fireworks and sky lantern sales

Commissioner Michelle Gilman of the Department of Administrative Services and State Fire Marshal Laurie Volker told the Public Safety and Security Committee they oppose House Bill 70 54, which would permit the sale and use of certain non‑aerial consumer fireworks and authorize sky lanterns, while supporting indexed changes such as raising the minimum sales age from 16 to 18.

"The safest to keep everyone safe, it's best to go to professional shows," State Fire Marshal Laurie Volker said, citing national data and state incident totals as a reason to oppose expanding consumer fireworks beyond the narrow set now allowed.

Volker and the Department of Administrative Services pointed to national statistics contained in written testimony — more than 31,000 fires related to fireworks in a recent year, including structure and vehicle fires — and Connecticut figures showing 22 fires linked…