Want to blast off fireworks? Most are outlawed in Illinois

Metro-east fire chiefs have some advice if you want to enjoy fireworks for the Fourth of July weekend.

“The best thing to do with the real fireworks is to go to a sanctioned display that is put on safely,” Belleville Fire Chief Tom Pour said.

Edwardsville Fire Chief Rick Welle agrees with Pour and urges families not to put on their own display in the backyard, and go to a show to see “big fireworks.”

What fireworks are legal in Illinois?

You can use novelty fireworks such as sparklers and snakes, although a municipality can ban even these.

It is illegal to possess, purchase or use “consumer fireworks” without a consumer display permit obtained from local authorities, according to the State Fire Marshal. Consumer fireworks include bottle rockets and firecrackers.

Pour said Belleville allows novelty fireworks but he warns parents about letting kids play with sparklers.

“Even novelty fireworks need to be treated with extreme caution,” Pour said. “Sparklers can burn at well over 1,000 degrees.”

How many people were killed or injured by fireworks last year?

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said 11 people died in fireworks-related accidents last year nationwide and eight died in the previous year.

The commission estimates 10,500 people were treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries associated with fireworks in 2014.

If you plan to light fireworks this weekend, here are tips from the product safety commission:

▪  Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. Back up to a safe distance immediately after lighting fireworks.

▪  Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks, including sparklers.

▪  Keep a bucket of water nearby to hold spent fireworks.

▪  Never try to relight or handle “dud” fireworks. Soak them with water and throw them away.

What about pets?

Cats and dogs are more sensitive to loud noises than people are, according to the Humane Society of Missouri.

Here are tips from the society:

▪  Give your pet a quiet, cool place to spend the Fourth of July holiday. Turn on a radio or television to mask the sounds of fireworks.

▪  If you do take a dog to a festival, keep it on a short leash and watch for signs of stress.

▪  Don’t confine fearful animals in a crate. This could increase their panic.

This story was originally published July 2, 2015 at 9:47 AM with the headline "Want to blast off fireworks? Most are outlawed in Illinois."