© 2024 Peoria Public Radio
A joint service of Bradley University and Illinois State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Illinois Fire Officials Give Fireworks Safety Tips For Holiday Weekend

flickr user/Chris "Fireworks" (CC BY 2.0)
/
http://bit.ly/1NxqYWA

Independence Day weekend is almost here, which means some may want to celebrate with fireworks. But what is legal in Illinois, and what is safe?

Credit flickr user/Chris "Fireworks" (CC BY 2.0) / http://bit.ly/1NxqYWA
/
http://bit.ly/1NxqYWA

State fire officials say hand-held fireworks – like roman candles and bottle rockets – are illegal in the state. Those who buy or use them could face up to a year in prison and a $2,500 fine.

While novelty fireworks are legal, Illinois State Fire Marshal Matt Perez says they could still be dangerous.

“Sparklers – little things that typically people allow their children to play with and don’t worry about it – burn at about 1,200 degrees,” Perez said.

Which, Perez says, could be hot enough to melt glass.

Perez says party poppers that shoot confetti don’t get very hot and could be a better alternative to fireworks, along with noisemakers.

The National Fire Protection Association says about 8,600 people are treated for fireworks injuries every year. The Federal Emergency Management Agency says a quarter of those are from legal sparklers.

Perez says about one-third of all Illinois hospitals reported having to treat firework injuries between June 23 and July 20, 2015.

Illinois fire officials also say those who transfer, purchase, use or possess display fireworks without a proper license or storage certificate are breaking the law. That could mean up to five years in prison or a $10,000 fine.

Copyright 2021 WNIJ Northern Public Radio. To see more, visit WNIJ Northern Public Radio.

Katie Finlon is a general assignment reporter for WNIJ News. She got her start in public radio as an intern for the station and has contributed stories for them ever since. Katie earned her master’s degree in audio engineering after realizing that she loved audio editing and production during her WNIJ internship. That degree came after a bachelor’s in communication. Katie also has been Morning Edition producer for the station. Before moving into broadcast, she started her journalism career in print with her college newspaper and other local papers in northern Illinois. When she’s not in the newsroom, Katie loves spending down time with family and friends – preferably over dinner at one of her favorite Italian restaurants.