ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – While Alaskans enjoy the beauty of the aurora for most of the winter season, New Year\u2019s Eve gives a select few the chance to light up the night sky in a different way. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the perfect time to light up that dark Alaska sky and celebrate with a bang,\u201d said Sam Bouma, general manager of Gorilla Fireworks in Houston, the only city in southcentral Alaska where buying and lighting fireworks is legal. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe keep it legal in the city of Houston because fireworks are safe when used properly and when used in accordance with their actual manufacturer guidelines,\u201d said Christian Hartley, Houston Fire Chief. <\/p>\n
Hartley told Alaska\u2019s News Source that, while the City of Houston wants people to enjoy the holiday, there are a few things to keep in mind while enjoying the light show.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo not shoot off fireworks anywhere closer than about 50 feet from the trees, and if they go into the trees, go over there and make sure that it didn\u2019t light anything on fire,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Hartley also pointed to metal-tipped sparklers as a safety risk, especially for children. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe tips of them can burn at 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. That\u2019s enough to weld with that. That should not be in the hands of a child.\u201d<\/p>\n
While the drier summer conditions caused certain fireworks, such as Roman candles, to be banned for the Fourth of July, Hartley said these restrictions have been eased for the winter. <\/p>\n
\u201cDuring the wintertime, Roman candles are fine. The rockets are fine,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe biggest thing is remembering that you are responsible for those fireworks when you shoot them off and to make sure that you\u2019re being safe.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve seen a lot of families and groups coming out, putting whole shows together,\u201d said Bouma. <\/p>\n
\u201cEverything from a show in the box where it\u2019s one light and it has anywhere from 9 to 100 plus shots going up, to individual mortar or artillery shells.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to Hartley, there is also a time limit for when people are allowed to light fireworks in Houston. <\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t ruin it for everybody by making a silly mistake and make sure you\u2019re done by 1:00 AM. There is nowhere in this in the Matsu Valley where it is legal to shoot off fireworks after 1:00 AM.\u201d<\/p>\n