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If you do plan fireworks If you do plan to set off fireworks this year, find out first whether they're legal where you live by calling the local fire department. Fireworks are illegal inside Medford and many other local cities. Here are some safety rules from the state fire marshal's office: Always have an adult present when using fireworks. Never allow children to use or play with matches or lighters. Have a hose or bucket of water handy for emergencies and to douse misfired and spent fireworks. Read and follow label directions carefully. Use fireworks outdoors. Light one at a time and move away quickly. Never point or throw fireworks at people, pets, cars or buildings. Keep fireworks away from small children. Do not alter fireworks or attempt to make your own. State bans fireworks sale to kids under 16 By JULIE SWENSEN Kids planning to go to a fireworks stand need to heed a new state law this year: If you're under 16, you're too young to buy. Opening day of fireworks sales Wednesday saw new rules from the state fire marshal that prohibit children younger than 16 from buying fireworks in Oregon. According to the fire marshal's office, the change was made to reduce the number of fires and injuries caused by children misusing fireworks. One local fireworks stand operator said the new law will hurt his business, and would-be fireworks buyer Jeremy George, 14, of Medford didn't like it much either. "It's a pretty screwed-up law," Jeremy said as he looked at a fireworks display inside the Black Bird store Wednesday. He thought 13 or 14 should be old enough to buy. The previous rule was that children had to be 54 inches tall or 12 years old to buy fireworks. "We've already had to tell some of the kids no," said Black Bird floor manager Lisa Edwards, but she added it hadn't been much of an issue yet. Signs hung from tables of fireworks explaining the age requirement. Black Bird is checking identification of kids who look too young, as is Discount Fireworks on South Pacific Highway just south of Medford. Operator Eddie Sims pointed to fireworks left on the counter from a 15-year-old boy who unsuccessfully tried to buy them. "It'll definitely affect the business," Sims said. In the past, kids would come in several times a day to buy fireworks, a little at a time, he said. He said kids are "bummed" about the new rule. Sims said it's probably safer if kids have adults with them when buying fireworks, though, because then they're less likely to set them off without adult supervision. "Kids do foolish things (with fireworks), but I've seen adults do foolish things with them, too," he said. Although vendors sell fireworks on the outskirts of Medford, it's illegal to possess them, sell them or use them inside city limits. Even so, fireworks have already sparked one blaze in Medford this year. Medford fire inspector Larry George said a bottle rocket landed on a home's shake roof a couple of weeks ago on South Holly Street, causing about $2,000 damage. The other fireworks-related fires George usually sees are grass fires set by unsupervised kids who are playing with fireworks. Will the new law help? "I do feel that it would reduce the number of fires, simply for the fact that I think a 16-year-old is more aware of dangers and hazards, and maybe a little more responsible than younger children," George said. Statistics back that up. Last year, there were 81 firework-related injuries in the state, and emergency room reports show that kids under age 17 account for more than 60 percent of the injuries, according to the fire marshal's office. There were 152 fires in the state last year that were caused by fireworks, resulting in more than $286,800 in damage and property loss. Because many of the injuries were caused by sparklers, several fireworks wholesalers in Oregon are voluntarily banning the sale of sparklers, the marshal's office said. But Black Bird and Discount Fireworks were selling them Wednesday. "I think most of them are selling sparklers, because they're a popular item," Sims said. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA