A new state law passed by Oklahoma lawmakers in 2026 is deregulating fireworks and making it easier for people to buy and fire them.
Known as the Rockets’ Red Glare Act, the law, among other things, makes so-called “bottle rockets” legal again in Oklahoma for the first time in decades.
Bottle rockets were first banned statewide back in 1981. The Red Glare Act also permits the year-round sale of fireworks in some areas of the state.
But State Fire Marshal Keith Bryant told Oklahoma Voice that the law did not preempt local ordinances banning or restricting fireworks. Many cities in Oklahoma will continue to maintain complete bans on fireworks.
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Rockets
So what are bottle rockets? They’re consumer-grade fireworks containing a powder for thrust and a stick to stabilize it during flight. Other components are cardboard and paper.
The City of Edmond in Oklahoma isn’t thrilled about bottle rockets or any fireworks. Edmond has banned fireworks for over a century. The new law doesn’t change that.
Oklahoma City’s ban has been in place since 1912.
Ardmore, Oklahoma, is maintaining its ban, too. Said one local fire official to the media:
“All the houses are so close to each other that it’s really hard to control the sparks, so if someone hasn’t cleaned up their backyard, light the leaves on fire, then that spreads to the house. … If you choose to do that and then you catch your neighbors house on fire, well, then, you’re going to be paying for the house that you just burned down.”
Burned
Mustang Fire Marshal Eric Halte is worried about fireworks, too. Shortly after the Red Glare Act’s passage, Mustang passed a new ban on fireworks in the city.
Halte told the media that people will throw away burned fireworks not realizing that they’re still burning. Then they pull the trash cans up next to the house.
Fireworks can continue smoldering for hours before igniting, said Halte.
“Our stance on fireworks is there’s no safe way to handle consumer-grade fireworks,” he said.
Even innocent-seeming sparklers loved by kids can be dangerous and burn at extremely high temperatures.
Lost sales
But the previous law had its own problems, according to the new bill’s author, Rep. Scott Fetgatter, R-Okmulgee:
“We’re sending Oklahomans to other states to buy fireworks that are legally able to be shot. It doesn’t make sense to make Oklahoma businesses be shut down when I can just drive across the state line and buy the fireworks, come back and shoot them.”
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Explosions
Just weeks after the new bill was signed by the governor, a fireworks stand in Oklahoma exploded. Videos of the chaos were quickly uploaded to social media.
According to KOCO 5 News in Oklahoma City, firefighters were able to bring the situation under control. No injuries were reported.
Weeks earlier in Tennessee a truck carrying fireworks shut down a major highway when its cargo began to explode.
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Banned
Since the new law doesn’t affect everyone in the state, here’s how some areas of Oklahoma are dealing with fireworks and public safety.
- Piedmont Fireworks are banned within city limits.
- Norman Fireworks are banned within city limits.
- Edmond Fireworks are banned within city limits. This includes bottle rockets, sparklers, snakes, and all consumer-grade fireworks.
- Choctaw Fireworks can be discharged on private property during select times.
- Midwest City Fireworks are banned within city limits.
- Moore Fireworks are banned within city limits.
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By G.W. Schulz