Fireworks are on the city ballot, here’s things to know
Great Falls voters are receiving their ballots this week and will be asked to vote on city fireworks regulations.
The Electric received numerous questions this week about what the ballot language means.
In the simplest terms:
- if you want fireworks rules to remain as they are, vote no
- if you want to further restrict the allowable types of fireworks in the city, vote yes
Voting yes does not ban fireworks in the city limits but would prohibit the use of aerial devices, such as shells, rockets, and cakes, and devices designed to explode, such as Roman candles, salutes, firecrackers, and similar items.
City Commission sends fireworks to November ballot
There is no conspiracy to confuse voters, the city must follow specific rules set by the state pertaining to ballot language.
Ballots are due to the county elections office by 8 p.m. Nov. 4.
If you’re wondering how the question of fireworks got to the ballot, we’ll revisit our summer reporting.
On July 2, a house fire that Great Falls Fire Rescue officials determined was caused by fireworks killed an elderly woman, her dog and cat.
Officials investigated but couldn’t prove who lit the fireworks that started the grassfire that spread to the house and no charges were filed.
Public hearing set for Aug. 5 on sending fireworks to the ballot
Following the incident, Commissioner Rick Tryon posted on social media that he was going to ask his fellow commissioners if they were in agreement to direct staff to draft a resolution to update city code to ban fireworks within the city limits.
In a follow-up post, Tryon said he would start the process of changing the code either by commission vote or sending the question to the ballot for a public vote.
Commissioners voted 4-1 during their Aug. 5 meeting to send the question on fireworks rules to the ballot.
Commissioner Joe McKenney voted in opposition, repeating his preference for the commission making the decision.
Voters are being asked to approve or disapprove an amendment to city code that would restrict the use, sale and discharge of certain fireworks within city limits.
Write-in lines back on for November city ballot; late registration available
The ordinance would continue to allow the use of novelty and other consumer fireworks as defined by Montana law, such as sparklers, fountains, snakes, and other non-explosive, non-aerial fireworks.
The ballot language, as proposed, would ask voters if yes or no to striking out the line in existing code “only those fireworks authorized by state law are permissible” with:
A. Fireworks permitted to be sold and discharged within the municipal limits of the City of Great Falls are limited to those allowed by Mont. Code Ann. § 50-37-105 (2025), except that the following fireworks are strictly prohibited: 1)
fireworks designed to leave the ground, such as rockets, shells, cakes, missiles, and roman candles; and 2) fireworks designed to explode upon activation, such as salutes and firecrackers. Permitted fireworks typically include sparklers, fountains, ground spinners, snap caps, smoke devices, and novelty items.
B. Except as provided in paragraph A, above, or in city-approved and permitted public displays, fireworks (as defined by Mont. Code Ann. § 50-37-101) are not permitted to be sold and/or discharged within the city limits under this
chapter.
City moving toward sending fireworks to November ballot; no vote yet
The change will only be incorporated into city code if a majority of voters vote yes.
Many have suggested that commissioners put options on the ballot, but under state law, they aren’t allowed what is essentially a multiple choice question on the ballot and must ask in the form of a yes or no question.
The estimated cost to add the question to the November ballot is $88.
The estimated cost of the municipal election is $66,704.67, including the addition of the fireworks question, according to the county elections office.
Commissioners considering fireworks rule change; no action yet taken
History of fireworks regulations in Great Falls
[READ: current city code pertaining to fireworks]
State law pertaining to fireworks from 1985-1992 that allowed consumer/common fireworks as defined in federal law, except for aerial fireworks, according to city records.
City code banned fireworks before 1992 but the ban wasn’t enforced, according to the city.
In 1992, a working group was formed to discuss and develop a plan for fireworks regulation in the city.
“At the time, it was observed that enforcement was difficult due to the following: 1) fireworks are sold in the county, which are not legal in the city; illegal use of fireworks within city was common; difficulty in identifying violators; many violators are juveniles; difficulty in educating the public and enforcement personnel as to which fireworks are legal/illegal,” according to the city.
GFFR reminding residents of fireworks rules, safety
Those were the same challenges discussed during the city meetings so far this month regarding fireworks regulations.
The working group developed a “somewhat complicated ordinance identifying legal and illegal fireworks. The ordinance was fairly restrictive, prohibiting exploding and aerial fireworks (which were likely already banned under state law),” according to the city.
Commissioners initially rejected most of the ordinance, striking most of the provisions, but kept a five day limitation for the use and sale of fireworks in the city.
Later in 1994, commissioner amended the ordinance, incorporating the provisions they’d previously rejected.
In 2007, commissioner revised the 1994 ordinance to allow any fireworks that were permissible under state law, which at the time prohibited sky rockets, Roman candles and bottle rockets, and reduced the permitted time frame to three days in July, established a fine structure, and a permit and fee requirement for fireworks sellers, according to the city.
Those rules have largely remained in place.
In 2016, Bob Kelly, former mayor, held a town hall on fireworks.
About 60 people attended and were split roughly down the middle about keeping the rules as is or restricting fireworks further.
Resident asks city to consider banning fireworks within city limits [2018]
No change was made to the current city ordinance restrictions on the dates that fireworks are allowed to be sold and used.
The commission made minor code changes related to fireworks in 2017, raising the age to 10 for those requiring parental supervision to discharge fireworks.
The commission also added a provision, at the suggestion of former Commissioner Bill Bronson, allowing the city manager, after consultation with the fire chief, to issue an emergency declaration banning the use of fireworks during the normal allowable times if weather conditions such as high winds, drought or extreme heat, pose a danger to public safety.
In 2021, the Montana Legislature eliminated its prohibition on aerial fireworks in an effort to be consistent with federal law, though the use of fireworks is prohibited on federal property, including national parks, national forests, military installations, post offices, etc. and in Washington, D.C., where fireworks violation fines start at $2,000.
Since permissible fireworks in city code was tied to state law, that made aerial fireworks legal in the city, beginning in 2021.
Foundation fundraising to continue community fireworks display
Missoula, Kalispell, Helena, Bozeman and Billings ban fireworks within the city limits.
Fireworks are allowed, with few restrictions, in Cascade County and are governed by state law.
City officials to discuss changes to fireworks rules on July 15
There was some online chatter in July that fireworks were on the 2021 ballot.
Fatal fire believed to be caused by fireworks
It was not.
Fireworks complaints up this year [2020]
There was no question of fireworks on the city ballot for at least the last 12 years, per this reporter’s reporting and the city clerk’s records, who had no record whatsoever of fireworks being placed on the ballot.
Great Falls Fire Marshal Mike McIntosh said in July that their investigation into the fatal July 2 fire had concluded.
Deputy fire marshals went to the fire scene again on July 7 looking for cameras but were unable to find any that would produce usable video footage, McIntosh told The Electric, so fire investigators had to go with the information provided to them on scene.
July 4 holiday calls down again this year [2018]
This year, the calls to Great Falls Fire Rescue and Great Falls Police department from July 1-5 were:
Great Falls Fire Rescue, per Chief Jeremy Jones
Total fire incidents:
-
2025: 10
-
2024: 9
-
2023: 6
-
2022: 4
-
2021: 33
-
2020: 7
- 2025: 14
- 2024: 12
- 2023: 7
- 2022: 1
- 2021: 43
- 2025: 40
- 2024: 19
- 2023: 21
- 2022: 24
- 2021: 57
Great Falls Police Department, per Lt. Matt Fleming
- 2025: 53
- 2024: 36
- 2023: 36
All calls for service:
- 2025: 500
- 2024: 446
- 2023: 570
In 2021, July 4 was a Sunday and that weekend, GFFR responded to 139 calls and of those, 31 were grass fires, 11 dumpster fires, two structure fires directly related to fireworks and two EMS calls related to fireworks, to include second degree burns from fireworks.
City Commission discusses annual goals
In 2020, from July 2-5, there were five grass fires and two dumpster fires related to fireworks, according to fire officials.
There were Stage 1 fire restrictions in place in Cascade County for the July 4, 2021 holiday.
Nearly every year, the community and public officials discuss fireworks and the city’s current regulations that allow the sale and discharge of certain types of fireworks within the city limits from July 2-4 from 8 a.m. to midnight each day.
Foundation fundraising to continue community fireworks display
The city fireworks show is privately funded through the Peoples Park and Recreation Foundation and is conducted by a professional fireworks company.
In 2016, Bob Kelly, former mayor, held a town hall on fireworks.
About 60 people attended and were split roughly down the middle about keeping the rules as is or restricting fireworks further.
Resident asks city to consider banning fireworks within city limits [2018]
No change was made to the current city ordinance restrictions on the dates that fireworks are allowed to be sold and used.
The commission last changed city code related to fireworks in 2017, raising the age to 10 for those requiring parental supervision to discharge fireworks.
The commission also added a provision, at the suggestion of former Commissioner Bill Bronson, allowing the city manager, after consultation with the fire chief, to issue an emergency declaration banning the use of fireworks during the normal allowable times if weather conditions such as high winds, drought or extreme heat, pose a danger to public safety.
Missoula, Kalispell, Helena, Bozeman and Billings ban fireworks within the city limits.
Fireworks are allowed, with few restrictions, in Cascade County and are governed by state law.
During the commission’s Jan. 3 retreat, Mayor Cory Reeves asked if it would be possible to put a fireworks ordinance on the ballot because he got a lot of complaints on New Year’s Eve.
City Manager Greg Doyon said “sure.”
Cascade County implements fire restrictions [2022]
City Commissioner Shannon Wilson said she rode with GFPD on New Year’s Eve and fireworks were going well outside the legal times.
“If you have ordinance against it, they’re still going to do it,” she said.
Reeves said he thinks they should put it on a ballot since the community is divided on fireworks.
“Why do us five have to make that decision,” Reeves asked.
State launches fire restrictions map; local officials urge caution as fire danger increases [2021]
He asked if the city would have to pay to put that question on the ballot and said he didn’t understand that process.
Doyon asked to let staff explore it and said that if they adopt a fireworks ban, they’d need to have the ability to enforce it.
Reeves asked if they could ban fireworks for individuals and still allow commercial displays, to which staff said yes.
Lisa Kunz, city clerk, pointed out that the county allows fireworks.
Commissioner Joe McKenney said in January that the only thing he wanted on the ballot were things they have to put there.
If it doesn’t have to be on the ballot, “then that’s our job as commissioners to vote on it. I think that’s our job.”
