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Resident urges tighter fireworks limits as council takes second reading on fireworks ordinance
Summary
At the Oct. 6 Lancaster City Council meeting, John Bradford urged the council to adopt stricter local limits on fireworks, saying state rules create enforcement gaps and citing hazardous displays during recent holidays; the council held a second reading of a proposed fireworks ordinance with no final vote.
John Bradford of Frederick Street told Lancaster City Council on Oct. 6 that the council should adopt local restrictions on fireworks to address safety and quality-of-life concerns. Bradford said the state’s law governing aerial fireworks requires users to be 150 feet from any structure and argued that "there's no place in the City of Lancaster that fits within that category," which he said makes enforcement difficult and has led to unsafe displays that drop hot debris on roofs and yards.
Bradford asked council to pass the local ordinance that would make rules clearer for police and fire personnel. His comments followed reports of at least three neighborhoods experiencing "extreme and illegal firework displays" during the recent Labor Day weekend, which Bradford said created safety hazards for residents.
Council later held a second reading of Ordinance Temporary 53-25, an amendment to the city’s General Offenses Code to adopt Chapter 550 (Fireworks). Council member Mr. Bizjak indicated the item was on its second of three readings; no final vote was taken at the Oct. 6 meeting.
Next steps: Ordinance 53-25 is scheduled to continue through the council reading process; council members and staff did not record final action on the measure at the meeting.
