Illegal Vs. Legal Fireworks Usage

The 4th of July is fast approaching and while most like to enjoy public fireworks displays, setting off your own collection is becoming quite popular.

Popular, but not always legal. While you may be able to buy certain fireworks in Ohio you can’t set all of them off in your backyard. “Its something readily available but its simply something not to be used in the state and every year on the 4th of July it seems like we have a lot of different injuries that happen. We always end up with someone burned or somebody with an eye injury.” Zanesville Fire Chief Dave Lacy.

Sometimes sparklers, party poppers and smoke bombs just aren’t enough for some, but there is a difference and limit to what fireworks can be set off at home. “The difference, one of the things we’re talking about is the amount of powder charge in the device itself and some of those are made to go hundreds of feet in the air and detonate there and certainly none of the things that are exempt from the law will do anything like that.”

As for enforcing what is illegally being set off- Chief Lacy says the fire department can receive calls of illegal firework use and will then send a police officer to check on it. If caught in the act a warning could be given or even a ticket issued.