LANSING – Since
the state legalized louder and larger fireworks in 2011, the sales have
increased by more than 50 percent according to the data from the Michigan
Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.

Michigan only
permitted low impact fireworks, like sparklers, in the past. It led in the
powerful consumer-grade fireworks in 2011, dividing residents.

However,
according to LARA, revenue numbers show fireworks sales rising since the law’s launch.

In 2012,
retailers sold $22.3 million worth of fireworks. In 2015, it increased up to
$34.9 million worth of fireworks sold.

Currently, 986
retailers of consumer-grade fireworks are registered through LARA. Around 650 of the sellers worked in Michigan
during the summer of 2014.

With the fireworks season kick off, State Fire Marshal
Julie Secontine urged residents to use safety precautions and be careful while
handling legalized consumer-grade fireworks.

“There’s explosive material in all of these,”
Secontine said.

In 2014, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
included 11 fireworks-related national deaths in its data. 

“Always make sure you buy them
from a licensed stand, first of all,” said Mick Dingman, Detroit regional
supervisor with the state Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.

He advised residents not to buy fireworks
from somebody in a van or on Craigslist. Dingman explained that the fireworks
you buy should have a label that says 1.46 and not just a brown paper. If it
says 1.36, it’s not legal in Michigan.

Secontine
also clarified that the fireworks should be deployed one at a time using a
stand purchased from a firework retailer. If
one doesn’t deploy, it needs to be kept underwater for 24
hours and then thrown away.