Arts & Entertainment

Fireworks: All You Need to Know

What's the fine for playing with illegal fireworks? What are some safety tips for the Fourth of July? And what's the best way to photograph the big patriotic fireworks show?

Fourth of July is nearly upon us, and we're here to make sure you don't blow off your hands, blow a good photo opportunity or blow over the legal limit.

Whether you want to know why you can't set off your own fireworks, where to see a local show and how to photograph that show, read below.

Fireworks Illegal in Illinois

You can have sparklers, smoke bombs and party poppers, but the fun stops there. Fireworks are illegal in Illinois, and if you're caught with them the penalty can range from a small fine to nearly a year in prison.

Find out what's happening in Lemontwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In general, anything you can buy at stores like is OK to have. For a complete list of legal fireworks, click here. Anything that explodes — bottle rockets, firecrackers, torpedos, squibs or anything containing an explosive — is a no-no.

The takes a zero tolerance approach to fireworks enforcement. Anyone caught with illegal fireworks faces arrest, confiscation of the explosives and a possible felony conviction, police said.

Find out what's happening in Lemontwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Residents can expect a stepped-up enforcement in the days before and after the Fourth, police said.

Fourth of July Safety Tips

Silver Cross Hospital offered a bunch of , including some powerful numbers about firework-related injuries and drunken driving. 

There are about 8,500 firework-related injuries each year in the U.S., 2,000 of which are eye injuries. And although sparklers are legal here, they account for three-quarters of all firework injuries in preschoolers.

"A lot of people forget that the Great Chicago Fire happened during a drought. With the forecast for the next week, you just can't be too careful," said Jeff Hawthorne, director of fire prevention for the .

Officials also urge residents to take the following precautions:

  • While novelty fireworks such as snakes, glow-worm pellet, smoke bombs and sparklers are legal, be sure to keep a charged garden hose nearby to extinguish any small fire that could develop in dry grass or mulch.
  • Remember that sparklers burn at up to 1,800 degrees and can set clothing, decks, dry grass and mulch on fire.
  • Always have a bucket of sand available to dispose of used sparklers.
  • Don't run around with lit sparklers and do not use them while standing on a wooden deck, dry lawn or other combustible materials.

Patriotic Picnic and Fireworks Display

The annual Independence Day Extravaganza will be held from 4 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. on Tuesday, July 3, at , 16028 W. 127th St.

The free event will feature a beer garden and food court, a skateboard competition (4:15 p.m.), 3-on-3 basketball tournament and children's activities (5 p.m.), bean bag tournament (6 p.m.) and musical entertainment from Five Guys Named Moe (7 p.m.).

The firework display is scheduled to begin at dusk.

Guests are welcome to bring blankets and chairs for the all-ages event.

For more information, visit www.lemontparkdistrict.org.

How to Photograph Fireworks

Capturing fireworks on camera is a challenge that can be mastered easily with the right equipment and settings on your camera. Here is a short tutorial to help you  capture the rockets' red glare this Fourth of July.  

Equipment needed:

  • Camera: Either point-and-shoot or an SLR.
  • Tripod: To keep the camera steady and prevent motion blur.
  • Flashlight:  To see the camera settings in the dark.
  • Wireless Trigger: Not necessary but it helps to prevent camera shake.

Be sure to check out our step-by-step advice on .

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