NC Lawmakers Approve New Fireworks Regulations After Fatal July 4 Ocracoke Blast

North Carolina lawmakers have reacted to a fireworks explosion on July 4 on the Outer Banks in which four workers died and one suffered severe personal injuries by passing new requirements for training employees who work with pyrotechnics.

On August 7, the N.C. Senate voted 43-0 to approve detailed standards for people transporting and setting off fireworks at public concerts or exhibitions. The measure had previously passed in the N.C. House of Representatives and will move on to Governor Beverly Perdue to be signed.

According to the new regulations, the licenses would be issued to pyrotechnics operators by the state fire marshal after it had been determined that they had received a minimal level of training and gained experience by helping to set up displays at least three times.

On July 4, four workers from Wayne County died and one other was severely injured when the fireworks they were unloading from a truck exploded on Ocracoke Island.