BISMARCK, ND (KXNET) — As New Year’s Eve celebrations kick off, fireworks are set to light up the night sky. However, experts and officials are reminding residents about safety — and the law— to ensure the festivities don’t end in fines, fires, or injuries. In Bismarck, lighting fireworks is illegal within city limits. “It’s a Class B misdemeanor to shoot off fireworks or possess them within the city of Bismarck, meaning you could be fined up to one-thousand-five-hundred dollars and be in jail for up to 30 days,” Lieutenant Luke Gardiner said. “We’re not here to ruin people’s fireworks or firework displays, but we just want people to know that you can’t do that within the city of Bismarck.” Outside the city limits, where fireworks are permitted, safety becomes the top priority. Kale Schultz, who works at a Bobs Fireworks store, emphasized the importance of handling used fireworks properly after they’ve been lit. “Letting it sit for one or two days because once in a blue moon, fireworks will keep the hot coals in the middle, and we’ve had fireworks some days after a shoot that will just burst into flames a day, two days afterwards,” Kale said. “It’s really smart to keep it in the corner of a driveway or an area that you’re not going to use before actually throwing them away. Dousing them with a hose, misting it with water afterwards, is never a bad idea, either.” Firefighters see the consequences of fireworks being mishandled almost every year. Andrew Beckman, a Mandan firefighter, explained one of the most common mistakes he encounters. “One of the big things is to make sure you’re shooting your fireworks a safe distance from any buildings. We don’t want them right up next to the buildings. If younger kids are doing it, make sure they’re safe fireworks for them to participate in. Light them, get back away after you light the fuse. Don’t stand near.” Another recurring issue is improperly discarded fireworks, which can ignite fires even after appearing to have burned out. Fireworks can be a challenge for North Dakotans with PTSD and anxiety “We have almost every year, fires where someone threw a firework in that they thought was out, and it was still warm enough that it started to fire. And once those trash bins started to fire, they can do a lot of damage,” Beckman said. And what if a firework doesn’t go off? The advice is simple: wait. “If you got one that you let that didn’t go off, the best thing to do is to leave it for 20 to 30 minutes and not do anything. Don’t get up near it. Don’t go up and check on it," Beckman said. "And then after that period of time, if you can put it in some kind of a water container to make sure that it’s completely out.” In the event of a fire, firefighters urge people to call for help immediately. “If a firework would happen to start a fire, we encourage people to immediately call 911," he said. "If you have a hose or water, which is a thing you should have nearby when you’re lighting fireworks, you can go ahead and try to control it, but the important thing is to immediately call 911 because if you’re not able to handle it, then at least you have help on the way.” At the fireworks store, Renee Schultz from Bob’s reminded people that most accidents happen when safety instructions are ignored. “Basically, the tip is, always use a firework how they’re supposed to be used," Schultz said. "We have some in here that are handhelds. We’ve got some swords and sparklers and things like that. Those are handheld fireworks. But in general, most fireworks, you’re going to want to go away from anything that’s flammable." And if something looks wrong — whether it’s damaged, dropped, or just seems off — the advice is clear. “If you have any questions about it, if you dropped it, if it doesn’t look right, bring it back to the store where you bought it,” Schultz said. Whether you’re watching the sky light up or handling fireworks yourself, safety should always come first. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Today's Top Stories SIGN UP NOW