Central Florida officials crack down on unsafe fireworks stands

Orange County Fire Rescue inspecting roadside fireworks stands

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – As families are preparing for the Fourth of July, inspectors in Orange County are cracking down on fireworks stands that are unsafe.

Orange County Fire Rescue officials said they're conducting site checks at the 43 roadside fireworks businesses across the county. The inspectors go through a checklist of what safety items are needed and what is prohibited under Florida law.

Once the stand passes inspection, a permit is issued by the Office of the Fire Marshal to allow the stand to operate.

[RELATED: Hold your fire: Florida officials remind us what not to do on Fourth of JulyHow to stay safe while setting off fireworks]

"We just want to make sure that we create a safe environment for our Orange County residents and visitors that will be purchasing these products," Fire Marshal David Kilbury said.

During a visit on Wednesday, inspectors were forced to fail the TNT Fireworks stand near Goldenrod Road and Colonial Drive.

Owner Ceaser Santaliz said the severe weather on Tuesday left him underprepared for the inspection.

"The sky just opened up, ripped all the banners off and boxes were getting wet. We were in a rush to get everything put away so we didn't have any damaged merchandise," Santaliz said.

Inspectors said the stand also had fireworks that are not allowed to be sold to consumers because they can go airborne and explode.

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"We're going to have to go through, take those out and make sure we have the properly approved items," Santaliz said.

While popular, firefighters warn that fireworks can cause injuries or death. The National Fire Protection Association discourages the use of fireworks by consumers and urges those celebrating the holiday to watch a professional fireworks display.


About the Author:

Mark Lehman became a News 6 reporter in July 2014, but he's been a Central Florida journalist and part of the News 6 team for much longer. While most people are fast asleep in their bed, Mark starts his day overnight by searching for news on the streets of Central Florida.

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