Fireworks rules lax in Flathead County

There isn't much in the way of rules to stop Fourth of July revelers from turning Flathead County into a giant fireworks display, only common sense.

Though the incorporated cities around the Valley have ordinances restricting the use of fireworks, anywhere else in the county the pyromania is only limited by what the state won't allow.

Montana law forbids the sale or use of sky rockets, M-80s, Roman candles, bottle rockets and sparkler bombs.

Though Bigfork and much of Flathead County is fair game, there are a few restrictions in the area. No fireworks are allowed in state parks, forests or recreation areas, in Glacier National Park or any National Forest land. Fireworks are also forbidden on public docks, such as the one in Bigfork Bay.

But the economy could be putting a crimp on bottle rockets and the rest of the firecrackers local retailers sell.

"We've been a little slow this year," said Ryan Little, who is manning the Robinson Fireworks stand next to Branding Iron Station on Highway 35. "It will pick up on July 2 and 3rd though."

Little said good weather and the fact that the holiday falls on a Saturday bode well for sales, too.

"And this year the fire hazard isn't as bad as some years," Little said.

The economy had Robinson Fireworks so concerned — the company has had a stand in Bigfork for the last 36 years — that they're absorbing higher wholesale prices instead of passing the costs on to customers.

"There have been some major price increases on the wholesale level," Little said. "But this year we kept in mind what's going on with the economy and are trying to keep it as reasonable as we can."

Little said problems with production in China following a few accidents at major shipping centers has upped the cost of fireworks for American companies.

"We didn't pass our costs on, we didn't feel we could," Little said.