Fireworks license?

[sneaker]

Hi guys,

Not a gun license question but they go bang so it's probably a similar licensing area I guess, hopefully someone knows?

A semi-mate tells me you could get temporary fireworks licenses once upon a time here.

You didn't have to be a licensed pyro-technician or dealer or whatever apparently, as long as the powers-that-be knew when/where you were setting them off you could just buy them yourself?

Anyone know if this is still the case? Or did they can it years ago?

[SendIt]

You could get temporary permits years ago.

You had to specify date of use, location, reason - birthday party or whatever was acceptable - and so on.

This was 10+ years ago though so I don't know now...

[Hercl]

I don't know where you are, but The Stockade in Terry Hills used to do this.

Stocked fireworks and completed permits for you.

I don't live near there any more so don't know if it's still the case, but giving them a call won't hurt.

[whert]

Are fireworks still legal in Canberra?

Probably tonnes of people doing 'firework runs' to get them there not realising they can just pay $25 for a permit and save hours of driving

[Spooner]

Are fireworks still legal in Canberra?

Apparently not - http://www.act.gov.au/browse/topics/law ... /fireworks

Can't see a date there, so don't know when this came into effect.

[Spooner]

Oh, 18th of March according to when that webpage was last edited...

[Arth]

Another blow from the nanny state...

[feedr]

Probably all over nothing too.

You hear these urban legends of kids doing stupid stuff with fireworks, but I don't recall ever reading anything in a paper or reputable website or anywhere else with a specific incident being mentioned?

Same old, same old. Politicians getting in a huff over nothing.

[Norton]

Same old, same old. Politicians getting in a huff over nothing.

Politicians over reacting? Say it aint so...

[tarnagulla]

As always, it varies from state to state, just like firearm laws...

It is a curious question though, and there are serious safety issues involved. Whether the various restrictions work or not is another matter, and the technical definitions that would be needed to try and distinguish between "amateur" and "professional" pyrotechnics would defeat Einstein...

In Victoria, fireworks come under Worksafe, not Victoria Police, and the only legal ones are "sparklers" - which some kids soon learned could be taped around CO2 bulbs to create a very nasty "bunger", with not only a powerful blast but a shower of metal shrapnel. You would think that the old paper "penny bunger" would be less dangerous?

Then again, I have seen a "licensed professional" at work, at a private function, whose display was indeed spectacular - he set his own ute on fire. Not that he needed it to get home afterwards, because he also set himself alight, and was taken away by ambulance...

His nickname was "Wingnut", which would seem about right!

[Vati]

It is a curious question though, and there are serious safety issues involved.

There must be tonnes of fireworks that don't pose a risk though.

Not "M80's" or whatever the yanks like that go bang, but things like pinwheels, roman candles... I don't know the names of any of the others but surely there are tonnes with lots of light and sound and no "bang".

[Skadoo]

Probably all over nothing too.

You hear these urban legends of kids doing stupid stuff with fireworks, but I don't recall ever reading anything in a paper or reputable website or anywhere else with a specific incident being mentioned?

I know the ones... Stuff like kids closing their hand around a bunger and blowing their hand clean off and things like this.

Given how much the media blow insignificant thing out of proportion, if there were real incidents of this stuff happening I'm sure we'd have all read specific incidents.

[Aster]

Tying something to a dogs tail was the old tale I always heard.

[sneaker]

I found the single use form in the end.

Doesn't look like it's a big deal to get a few fireworks for a nights festivities.

[reddog]

Dunno about the rest of the country but there was something like 15 fires in SA started by fireworks on New Years Eve, some costing hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Politicians over reacting ? Or too many knobheads wrecking it for everyone ?

[AusC]

Dunno about the rest of the country but there was something like 15 fires in SA started by fireworks on New Years Eve, some costing hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Are they sure it was fireworks though or could it be a case of there was a fire, and somewhere someone let off some fireworks, so we'll blame that.

Makes me wonder sometimes how they conclusively come up with these reasons.

[reddog]

I think its called fire investigation people specialize in it

[Norton]

I think its called fire investigation people specialize in it

Not saying you're wrong, but I'd be fascinated to know how they trace a 'hundreds of thousands of dollars' scale fire back to the remains of a firework.

Get Horatio Caine in to consult?

[reddog]

Ok I'll spell it out for you . Fireworks landed on a shack roof burnt it to the ground cars and a boat no insurance
How much does that add up to ? Hundreds of witnesses and amazingly the CFS were a bit slow to respond mayby
they were trying to enjoy their new years eve doing their own thing . It was hovering around 30c all night over
most of SA and still people were letting them off .
I have no problem with fireworks but there is a time and a place for everything and its not in the middle of a fire
ban

[Norton]

That's hardly investigation if hundred of people are standing there watching it happen and say "that bloke did it"

Point taken though.

I was over thinking things. When I said "I'd be interested to know how they trace....blah blah" I had the scenario in my head of them arriving post blaze and working it out from there.

Over thinking it...

[reddog]

Well it might not be that easy as there a lot of personal shows in the same area lots of fingers getting pointed

[Bourt]

Well it might not be that easy as there a lot of personal shows in the same area lots of fingers getting pointed

When I was a kid more than 1 neighbours lawn caught fire from someone elses fireworks

[VICHunter]

And a few wind breakers as well

Shooting your mates with Roman Candle's was common enough.

[sneaker]

Shooting your mates with Roman Candle's was common enough.

Don't give people ideas