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 to fireworks last year. Volker also cited Connecticut Department of Public Health data that averaged about 34 burn injuries per year from 2017 to 2021.

Her office urged lawmakers to keep consumer fireworks restrictions in place and raised special concern about sky lanterns. Volker described sky lanterns as uncontrolled aerial devices that can travel up to a mile and cause wildland or structure fires when they land, and said they have led to agricultural and wildlife harms in other countries.

Vendors and local fire officials at the hearing

Mike Dapkus, a longtime fireworks retailer, said many novel ground‑based devices proposed in HB 70 54 — spinners, party poppers, confetti devices and “safe‑and‑sane” ground fountains — are sold in nearby states and are less hazardous than handheld sparklers. He opposed legalizing sky lanterns and asked that municipal commercial‑property restrictions in the bill be clarified or removed so retailers are not unduly restricted from selling legal items on commercial property.

Matthew Jones, general counsel for TNT Fireworks, told the committee his company is neutral on sky lanterns and supports the bill’s broader expansion of non‑aerial consumer products, while acknowledging sky lantern risks and noting his company does not offer them.

State fire and safety association perspective

Roger Nelson of the Connecticut Fire Marshals Association reiterated concerns about sky lanterns and fireworks incidents, citing international examples in which lanterns caused major wildland and recycling facility fires.

Public‑safety rationale

The state fire marshal emphasized that even 'non‑explosive' fireworks can cause serious injury and that existing Connecticut law allowing sparklers and fountains has still produced injuries and fires. She recommended limiting consumer fireworks to professional displays and urged caution about any legislation that would loosen restrictions without clear safeguards and municipal options to restrict use.

Next steps

Committee members posed practical questions about town events, retailer operations, and how other states handle similar devices. Lawmakers and witnesses agreed that sky lanterns present unique risks and recommended excluding them from any expansion. Several witnesses suggested adding consumer safety labeling and mandated retail safety literature if the law is changed.

Ending

Lawmakers did not take votes. The hearing left the committee with competing recommendations: state fire officials urged maintaining restrictions and excluding sky lanterns; vendors advocated for limited expansion of ground‑based novelties but asked municipalities’ powers and sky lantern language be clarified or removed.