Another year has come and gone in the Teche Area, and local residents will be shooting fireworks into the cloudy sky this week to simultaneously send off this year and ring in the hopes of the year to come. 

It’s a time for family to meet one last time before the new calendar is pulled out and the busyness of everyday life starts to take over. Children and grandchildren will marvel over the beautiful lights shining all night in our area and hopefully the rest of us will be able enjoy our time with friends and loved ones just as much. 

But before the revelry of New Year’s Eve and the blast of fireworks when the countdown reaches zero, area residents should continue to be mindful of fireworks safety and laws throughout the Teche Area. 

Have fun, but be safe and know when and where you can let the fireworks fly. 

A Busy Time of Year 

Fremin’s Food and Furniture has had quite a year themselves. A massive fire that burned down the back of the building earlier this year made many wonder whether one of the most historic family-owned businesses in New Iberia could ever make a comeback. 

But the owners and employees, who put in the Herculean effort of reviving the badly damaged building, soothed all worries when the store was open for business in September. 

Now, the Fremin family is even back in the business of selling fireworks, a portion of the business that they open every July and December. Specifically, the store opened on Dec. 15 at noon and closes midnight Jan. 1, in accordance with state law. 

The fireworks portion of Fremin’s is filled to the brim with every type of fireworks imaginable. Friday morning in the store was mostly quiet, with co-owner Ray Fremin expecting a much larger crowd as the day progressed and the clock gets closer to the new year. 

“Yesterday was our only bad day, it was so bad,” Fremin said, referencing Thursday’s rainy and windy weather. “The weather was just so bad. All through the New Year we should stay pretty busy.”

Know Your Law

Knowing when and where to pop your fireworks requires some attention to local and state laws. 

Fremin said New Iberia, for instance, does not allow the popping of fireworks whatsoever. Those living in unincorporated portions of the parish however, do have times when they can let their fireworks display shine. 

“New Iberia used to have tight regulation, like three days before Christmas and New Year’s, but they did away with it,” Fremin said. 

The town of Jeanerette also does not allow for the popping of fireworks within the municipality. Loreauville fireworks poppers can set them off the day of and day after national holidays but must stop at 8 p.m,

In Delcambre, fireworks can be lit between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. through Jan. 1. On New Year’s Eve, fireworks can be discharged until 2 a.m. Jan. 1.

In the unincorporated areas of St. Mary Parish, fireworks may be set off from Dec. 15 to Jan. 1 from the hours of 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Additional hours of fireworks use will be allowed from 10 p.m. Dec. 31 to 1 a.m. Jan. 1.

Franklin and Baldwin do not allow for fireworks within town limits. In St. Martinville, fireworks may be discharged New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

Safety First

The National Council on Fireworks Safety is a nationwide organization that aims to promote the safe and responsible use of consumer fireworks. 

To avoid you or a loved one having a disaster occur, the NCFS recommends the following guidelines when using or popping fireworks during the holiday season: 

Obey all local laws regarding the use of fireworks.

Know your fireworks; read the cautionary labels and performance descriptions before igniting.

A responsible adult should supervise all firework activities.  Never give fireworks to children.

Alcohol and fireworks do not mix.  Save your alcohol for after the show.

Wear safety glasses when shooting fireworks.

Light one firework at a time and then quickly move away.

Use fireworks outdoors in a clear area; away from buildings and vehicles.

Never relight a “dud” firework.  Wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.

Always have a bucket of water and charged water hose nearby.

Never carry fireworks in your pocket or shoot them into metal or glass containers.

Do not experiment with homemade fireworks.

Dispose of spent fireworks by wetting them down and place in a metal trash can away from any building or combustible materials until the next day.

FAA regulations prohibit the possession and transportation of fireworks in your checked baggage or carry-on luggage.

Report illegal explosives, like M-80s and quarter sticks, to the fire or police department.