| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JUNE 19, 1999 |
Contact: Bill
Teets at (614) 644-7187 |
State Fire Marshal Issues Cease and Desist Order Against Conneaut Fireworks Dealer
Sales from facility pose risk to public safety
(COLUMBUS)Late Friday, the Ohio State Fire Marshal’s Office issued a cease and desist order against Midwest Fireworks, a licensed fireworks manufacturer in Conneaut Ohio. The order prohibits the company from selling fireworks.
The order was issued after an inspector from the state witnessed the unauthorized sale of fireworks from a building at 178 Underridge Road, Conneaut. The fireworks in question were classified as 1.4G, or consumer, fireworks which include items such as firecrackers, bottle rockets, roman candles and fountains. The building from which sales were being conducted does not meet the safety standards for fireworks showrooms as required by Ohio law.
The facility at that location previously approved as a showroom was completely destroyed by arson in early June. The State Fire Marshal continues to investigate that fire. Since that fire, the State Fire Marshal’s Office has been working with the owner of Midwest Fireworks, Laurence D. Lomaz, to find a way to legally continue sales in accordance with Ohio law.
Specifically, the order cited Midwest for failure to equip the showroom facility with an interlinked fire detection, fire suppression, smoke detection, smoke exhaust and smoke evacuation system, failure to separate the showroom from the storage area by a fire wall, and conducting fireworks sales outside a licensed building and from a building that has not properly been permitted for sales.
Department of Commerce spokesman Bill Teets issued this statement regarding Friday’s action: "The sale of fireworks from Midwest’s Conneaut facility poses a serious hazard to public safety. We are reviewing legal options to ensure continued compliance with Ohio laws, and will take the necessary steps ensure public safety."
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The Ohio Department of Commerce oversees the State Fire Marshal’s Office. Among other things, the State Fire Marshal is responsible for the regulation of Ohio’s fireworks industry. A release and fact sheet regarding fireworks is available at www.com.state.oh.us.
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