Rhode Island State Fire Marshal Jack Chartier displays an illegal “M-80” firecracker. Photo by Steve Klamkin WPRO News

By Steve Klamkin WPRO News

Members of the state bomb squad Tuesday set off a home-rigged so-called M-80 firecracker inside a watermelon, in a demonstration to show the destructive power of banned fireworks.

“The single piece of advice I can give you regarding using fireworks is not to,” said John “Jack” Chartier, the Rhode Island State Fire Marshal at the demonstration at the state’s fire academy in Exeter.

“Leave the fireworks up to the trained professionals who are trained and licensed,” said Chartier, who is concerned about the availability of fireworks in nearby states that are not legal in Rhode Island.

“We hear it from people all the time that “fireworks are legal in Rhode Island”. Not all fireworks are. And, part of the problem that we face is that in other states they are. New Hampshire and Connecticut in particular, you can buy a much more wide variety of fireworks in those states and we see them transported here.”

Chartier said that ground-based sparklers and fountains, a spinning wheel, a novelty toy, or a popper or a snake are all legal in Rhode Island.

“The most important part of that definition is that they are all ground-based devices,” he said, adding that flying fireworks or so-called ‘roman candles’ are not legal here. M-80’s, he said, are not legal in any state and are almost exclusively home made. He said that at 1200 degrees, fireworks burn hotter that most other household-based items.

Roadside tents selling fireworks have gone up in the past week across Rhode Island, and business is brisk at the TNT tent beside the Wampanoag Trail at Forbes Square in East Providence.

“It’s been going really good, we’ve been having a lot of good business, a lot of good days so far,” said manager Timothy Enos.

“We’re actually probably going to sell out, so if people are looking to come on in, they want to come in soon,” noting that the tent will remain open through July 4, or until the stock sells out.

He said that the shop, run to raise funds for the Truth Tabernacle United Pentecostal Church on Potters Ave. in Providence, sells only fireworks that are legal in Rhode Island.

“Anything that is allowable by Rhode Island law. That includes mostly fountains and a few noisemakers, up to 500 grams of powder.”

He said that the biggest seller is “The Encore”, a $49.99 fountain that many people use to open or close their homemade fireworks display.

“It shoots a shower of sparks up in the air, it will last several minutes, they come in a variety of colors, they make a lot of noise. It’s really just a lot of fun, basically.”

Marshal Chartier repeated his call not to use fireworks, because of the danger they pose.

“Have a wonderful Fourth of July. Be safe and leave the fireworks to the professionals.”