Community Corner

Plainfield Police: Steer Clear of Illegal Fireworks This 4th of July

Know what's legal and what's not — or better yet, check out Patch's handy guide to local fireworks displays, and leave it to the professionals.

Plainfield police are urging residents to celebrate the Fourth of July safely and legally, and will be out enforcing local and state fireworks laws this holiday.

"The Village of Plainfield takes fireworks safety and enforcement very seriously," the police department said in a press release. "In an effort to ensure the safety of the village and compliance with all state, federal and local regulations, the Plainfield Police Department will conduct stepped-up patrols specifically focusing on a zero-tolerance enforcement of the Village of Plainfield local ordinance regarding fireworks."

Plainfield's ordinance states it is unlawful for anyone to "manufacture, sell, keep for sale, possess, use, discharge or set off" rockets, firecrackers, torpedoes, squibs, other fireworks or anything of an explosive nature within the village.

Anyone who violates the ordinance will receive a $500 fine and their fireworks will be confiscated. Scofflaws could also face a felony conviction, depending upon the type of explosives they use.

The Office of the State Fire Marshal and the National Fire Protection Association recommend that people attend a professional fireworks display to ensure a safe holiday. In Plainfield, you can attend the July 3 Plainfield Park District Patriotic Picnic and Fireworks Display.

Read: Fireworks, Patriotic Picnic Scheduled for July 3 in Plainfield

Looking for more area fireworks displays? Find Fireworks for Fourth of July 2013 around Plainfield

What's legal — and what's not


People interested in shooting fireworks, either privately or as a professional display, need to be aware of Illinois' new fireworks regulations that recently went into effect. The regulations divide fireworks displays into two categories: 
    • Consumer fireworks, which include such items as fountains, repeaters and parachutes;
    • Pyrotechnic displays, which use professional grade fireworks such as mortars, cake bundles, and ground displays that depict a picture. 
    Both types of displays are only permitted in villages, municipalities and counties that have passed ordinances allowing such displays. 

    It's important to note that several well-known types of fireworks, such as firecrackers, bottle rockets and Roman candles, are not allowed in Illinois under the new regulations. 

    Novelty fireworks, such as snakes, sparklers, and party-poppers, are not regulated by the state, although municipalities have the authority to enact an ordinance prohibiting the sale and use of sparklers on public property.

    While legal, sparklers present a serious danger because of the high temperature of the wire during and after its use. Sparklers burn at temperatures of up to 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit (982 degrees Celsius) and remain extremely hot long after the sparks have stopped. Many children are injured each year by sparklers. Children playing with novelty fireworks must be closely supervised by adults to prevent injury.


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