There are places in Alaska where you can blow off fireworks on New Year’s Eve, but not within the city limits of Anchorage. The municipality will sponsor a fireworks display in the downtown area. City residents will face a citation and fine if they light their own fire crackers and bottle rockets. If you live in the Mat-Su Valley, you can shoot off your own fireworks from 6 pm till 1 am. Restrictions apply, including no pyrotechnics within 1,250 feet of a health care facility, school or library and not within 500 feet of any gas station or business where flammable fuels are stored.
Lori Townsend is the news director and senior host for Alaska Public Media. You can send her news tips and program ideas for Talk of Alaska and Alaska Insight at ltownsend@alaskapublic.org or call 907-550-8452.