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Board orders fireworks vendor to remove shipping containers by Aug. 1 after safety concerns
Summary
LaPorte County officials gave Michigan City Blackbull LLC until Aug. 1 to remove up to six seasonal shipping containers used as fireworks storage after neighbors raised fire‑safety and siting concerns; the board allowed a temporary accommodation through the Fourth of July period.
The LaPorte County Board of Zoning Appeals on May 19 told Michigan City Blackbull LLC to remove shipping containers used to store fireworks at 10507 East U.S. Highway 12 by Aug. 1.
Owner Carter Madigan said containers store seasonal inventory for three stores and that the containers would be emptied after the Fourth of July. Neighbors told the board they were alarmed by containers placed on grass near active fuel tanks, propane cages and fireworks displays at adjacent businesses and asked for immediate removal. Carol Lores, whose property is roughly 50 feet from the containers, told the board she is "very terrified" and said the containers are next to operations that store kerosene and propane.
Madigan said he would inspect and maintain fire suppression equipment and that fire marshal inspections occurred previously; he acknowledged not meeting some building‑department anchoring requirements and said he planned to work toward compliance. The board voted to allow the containers to remain only through August 1 and ordered the site owner to remove them by that date and not return them thereafter.
The building department noted written remonstrances on file and asked the petitioner to coordinate inspections and any necessary corrective work with county staff and the fire marshal.
The motion carried and the board recorded instructions that the containers not be returned to the site once removed after the deadline.
