Playing it safe when 'illegal' fireworks just across the state line

Chris Bingham and Sara Allen of Kings Mountain wheeled a shopping cart around Shelton Fireworks last week looking for just the right mix of high-flying explosives for July Fourth.

"They make the holiday," said Bingham. "It's a celebration. We're free. Let's do it."

The Blacksburg, South Carolina, store just south of the North Carolina state line at the second exit on I-85 will see an influx of customers between now and the Fourth of July, said store manager Tom Sudik.

Eighty percent of the customers Sudik sees come from North Carolina, just like Bingham and Allen, he estimates.

"And I may be low-balling it, too," he adds.

Shelton Fireworks takes advantage of a difference in state laws between North Carolina and South Carolina.

Sudik refers to North Carolina as a "safe and sane state," meaning the state outlaws fireworks that explode or fly into the air except if done as part of an permitted display with professional oversight.

South Carolina law allows for private residents to set off fireworks that fly into the air and explode.

"They're just beautiful," Allen said of fireworks.

While Bingham and Allen live in Kings Mountain, he also owns land in South Carolina where he plans to set off his fireworks for a group of family and friends on the Fourth of July weekend.

Keeping illegal fireworks out of the hands of North Carolina residents may seem near impossible. This year, Gastonia Police and Fire departments have tried to encourage residents not to set off illegal fireworks here.

"Fireworks that are legal in North Carolina are the one you can buy in the (local) store," said Gastonia Fire Department spokesman Jim Landis. "The ones that are not legal in North Carolina are the one you can buy from South Carolina.

"Those are the ones that can explode, move on the ground," he said. "Bottle rockets, firecrackers are illegal in North Carolina."

Police and fire officials say they're not against fun, but add they want to promote a safe holiday.

Gaston Emergency Medical Services transported four people to the hospital from July 2-July 5, 2021, related to firework injuries. Emergency workers talk of seeing people lose fingers after holding onto an explosive firework too long. Even sparklers can get extremely hot and burn hands or people or start fires if not disposed of properly, Landis said.

Setting off illegal fireworks also carries a maximum penalty of up to six months in jail and a $500 fine, said Gastonia Police spokesman Rick Goodale.

"Save your money, go see a professional show," Landis said.

North Carolina legal

Gastonia Fire Department's Life Safety Division goes through and inspects area firework stands to ensure they are selling only North Carolina legal fireworks, Landis said.

At Shelton Fireworks, items for sale that are legal in North Carolina carry a "green" tag, which Sudik explains stands for "green for ground" fireworks.

You can reach Kevin Ellis at 704-201-7016 or email him at kellis@gastongazette.com.